Hattsteinweiher

The Hattsteinweiher near Usingen is one of the most popular bathing lakes in the Taunus. Accordingly, it is highly frequented on summer weekends. It's not far from downtown Usingen, and yet the pond is idyllically located in the forest.

The first source reports about the pond date from 1610. In the 18th century, water pipes ran from the Hattsteinweiher to the city center of Usingen. Its name comes from the Lords of Hattstein, who were burgraves in Usingen in the 15th century. In the mid-1970s, the city undertook a fundamental redesign and renovation. Camping operations were stopped and a sandy beach was created on the west side. As the smallest bathing area in Hesse, the Hattsteinweiher is still a popular tourist destination today. Even Elvis Presley, the King of Rock'n Roll, sought peace and refuge from the ever-present fans in front of his house in August 1959 during his military service in the US Army in Friedberg. Elvis visited the Hattsteinweiher on or around the first anniversary of the death of his beloved mother Gladys. At this time he was suffering from a lot of mental stress, his mood was correspondingly depressed and he wanted to avoid all hustle and bustle as much as possible. Although he was not entirely successful, Elvis still came to the Hattsteinweiher several times, especially since it was not far from his 'Army Home' Friedberg/Bad Nauheim. The 'King's' visits ensured that the bathing area became much more well-known and the Hattsteinweiher is now of historical importance, at least for millions of Elvis fans. With its size of 1.6 hectares, it is the largest pond in the Hintertaunus, next to the Meerpfuhl. It is an artificially created body of water that is fed by a spring stream from the Stockheimer Bach and technically extracted spring water.

Bathing lake near Usingen in Hesse. Very nicely situated with a forest border. Has a small sandy beach.