Grabensee

The Grabensee is a small lake in the far north of Salzburg, near the border with Upper Austria. It lies in a protected landscape and is the smallest of the three Trumer Lakes. The Mattig stream flows through the lake from south to north, eventually reaching the Inn. The lake sits entirely within Berndorf bei Salzburg, though its shores touch other communities. The lake’s name first appears in records from 1040 as Gransse, linked to an old personal name meaning a former landowner or fishing-rights holder. Nearby Gransdorf village likely took its name from the same source. The modern name Grabensee developed over time through folk etymology. The lake’s waters warm to between 20 and 22 °C in summer, sometimes reaching 28 °C during hot spells. A single public access point exists at a natural lakeside beach in Perwang am Grabensee, complete with a camping area. Surfing and motorised boating are banned to protect wildlife, but walking trails wind around the shoreline. At the southern end stands the Zellhof Scout Village, set among quiet woodland. The surrounding landscape offers gentle hills and open meadows, ideal for peaceful walks.