Perhaps you have heard whispers of a hidden gem. That gem is Rumensee. This idyllic lake sits in Küsnacht in the canton of Zurich. It is a protected nature reserve of supra-regional significance.
Rumensee is an artificial lake. It is located above the village of Küsnacht. A reed belt surrounds Rumensee. This belt serves as a spawning ground for numerous amphibians. A wide path goes around the lake. A fence separates the path from the reed zone. This protects nesting birds. Direct access to the lake is not possible. Swimming and fishing are prohibited.
On the east and south sides a large meadow awaits. Here, you can find numerous barbecue areas and benches. A small building from 1937 houses toilets and a covered fireplace.
In the past a narrow stream fed the lake. It diverted water from the Kusenbach. Today, this stream is silted up or filled in. Now, the Rumensee is fed exclusively by seepage water. It comes from the rising terrain to the east. A small weir on the north side provides drainage. The Rumenseebach flows toward Zollikon. There, it joins the Düggelbach. The Düggelbach flows into Lake Zurich.
West of the Rumensee, across Zumikerstrasse, lies a forest. In 2011, Switzerland’s 70th Friedwald opened here.
Until 1723, Rumensee bordered Zollikon. It lay in a clearly visible depression. A forest road led south from here. The former “Waldhaus Rumensee” got its name from this location. The name refers to an Alemannic man named Ruomo or Rümo. “Ruomins See” became “Rumensee”.
Old maps sometimes call Rumensee “Zolliker Weiher”. This likely recalls the builder from Zollikon. The people of Zollikon called it “Grossweiher”. This distinguished it from the smaller Mühleweiher in Zolliker Kleindorf. The Mühleweiher powered the mill before 1723.
Johannes Bleuler from Zollikon built the Rumensee in 1723. He was a miller and sworn official. He wanted to improve the water supply for his mill during dry periods. Bleuler’s mill burned down in 1872. The owner, Johann Heinrich Meier, who was bankrupt committed arson. The mill was not rebuilt. Johannes Honegger from Hochfelden bought the “water pond including surrounding area”. He purchased it from Meier’s bankruptcy assets for 20,000 francs.
After the mill burned down, the pond lost its importance. It changed hands repeatedly. In 1891, Heinrich Honegger sold the pond. Gottfried Kunz, a file cutter from Zollikon, bought it. In 1910, Jakob Heer, a wood merchant, acquired it. In 1929, Eis-Knecht purchased the pond. They had used it for many years to get ice for breweries. The company fenced in the entire property. This made the lake inaccessible to the public. Around this time, people started calling it “Rumensee”.
In 1945, rumors spread that the owner wanted to fill the pond with rubble. Küsnacht’s municipal assembly agreed to buy the pond. The purchase price was 85,000 francs. Immediately afterward, the fence was removed. The Rumensee was accessible again to everyone.
In 1995, red swamp crayfish were discovered. They had been released into the nearby Schübelweiher. They quickly spread. The invasive species also colonized Rumensee. Authorities planned to eradicate them using Fenthion. However, private conservationists stopped this plan. They used traps and predatory fish to control the crayfish.
A legend surrounds Rumensee. The legend is called “The Monster of Rumensee”. It tells of a monster haunting the ruins of St. Anna Chapel. The chapel lies west of the lake. The monster frightened late-night travelers with rattling chains.
Today, the Rumensee offers a beautiful escape. You can walk along its shore. You can also enjoy the picnic area with a playground and fire pit. Remember the stories and the history as you relax by the water.