It may seem a little adventurous to go to the lake when temperatures are below the ‘comfortable bathing limit’, but this is exactly what helps many people to achieve unexpected strength, inner freedom and health. Ice bathing is trendy and highly addictive. There are many opportunities to do so at the Carinthian lakes,
including Lake Millstatt.
People swim in Carinthia's large lakes all year round. While sporting activities and fun are the main focus in summer, the healing powers of the water come to the fore when the temperature drops below 15 °C. Used correctly, cold strengthens the immune system, reduces stress, inhibits inflammation and ensures restful sleep. It increases well-being and has an impressive effect on the psyche. One person who recognised this early on was Sebastian Kneipp. Around 1850, the priest wrote his health-promoting teachings, which are still valid today, after taking baths
in the cold winter Danube several times a week.
Lake Millstatt established itself early on as a cold water swimming lake. The range of options is complemented by selected mountain and bathing lakes in the Lake Millstatt – Bad Kleinkirchheim – Nockberge region, which offer different types of cold water and ice swimming depending on their altitude. Clear water quality, designated entry points and the location between the lake and gentle hills create conditions that make ice bathing easily calculable and possible all year round. The decisive factor here is not so much the season as an understanding of when the cold takes effect and how long the body should remain in the water.
The main season for cold water swimming and later also ice swimming in the Millstätter See - Bad Kleinkirchheim - Nockberge region is during the autumn and winter months. However, the lakes at this altitude also get the endorphins flowing in summer, as the desired effects are achieved at water temperatures below 15 °C.
When ice bathing or winter bathing, the rule of thumb is: the cooler the water, the shorter the TIME spent in it. If the lake has a water temperature of 5 °C, bathers should stay in the water for a maximum of 5 minutes. In ice water that is 2 °C (and below), two minutes is considered the upper limit. During the first attempts, this time may be considerably shorter. In general, nothing is mandatory, everything is possible, and everyone chooses the pace that is comfortable for them.
Tip: Slow, short and together
There is one important rule when it comes to ice bathing: you should always bathe in cold water with at least one other person, preferably in a group, at your own pace and only for as long as it feels good for you. There is a risk of hypothermia. Taking part in an ice bathing workshop or, better still, a cold bathing weekend are the best ways
to prepare for a refreshing ice bathing season.
After a cold swim, every moment counts. The BadeZEIT 365 bathing poncho makes changing at the lake easy and
helps you warm up quickly – perfect for cold
swimming days at Lake Millstatt.
BathingTIME 365: Experience 365 days of lake contact
Official ice bathing spots
Warm enough for swimming in summer, Lake Millstatt becomes a refreshing health boost during the cooler months. The ice swimming season begins when the water temperature drops below 15 °C in October and ends in May.
HERE I FEEL FREEDOM →
Ice bathing on the Turracher Höhe is very different from that on Lake Millstatt. Lake Turracher See, Lake Schwarzsee and Lake Grünsee are located at around 1,700 metres above
sea level and are covered by a solid layer of ice
for several months in winter.
The cleared entry points are among the few open water areas and make cold bathing here reliable.
Even short periods in cold water are experienced by many as invigorating and clarifying. The cold stimuli can stimulate the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline – an effect that is often described as euphoric and energising.
Cold stimuli can activate brown adipose tissue, which is involved in the body's own heat production. This process is discussed in connection with increased energy consumption and is the subject of current research.
Cold provides strong stimuli that can temporarily mask other pain signals. Combined with the anti-inflammatory effect of cold treatments, ice bathing is perceived by some people as helpful for muscular or joint-related complaints.
During cold bathing, the heart rate increases, but afterwards it often slows down significantly. Many people report feeling deeply relaxed, calm and having improved sleep quality afterwards.
Regular exposure to cold is often described as training for the body. Studies – including one from 2016 – indicate that controlled cold stimuli can have positive effects on certain immune responses.
In competitive sports, ice and cold baths have been used for years to aid recovery. The cold can stimulate blood circulation after the bath and thus support the removal of metabolic waste products – an approach that is also used in recreational sports.
Ice bathing is less of a competition and more of a personal experience. Consciously dealing with cold can help you to rediscover your own limits and build confidence in your own body – step by step, at your own pace.
When ice bathing, happiness is often just a few steps away from the shore. A few calm breaths in the cold water are enough to feel a sense of inner freedom.
