Italy's Sunken Village

At first glance, you might be surprised when you see the church tower rising above the lake. A tower in the middle of a lake - but what exactly is its story? Discover everything about the sunken village in Reschensee, Italy.

On one hand, it seems unique, mystical, and romantic; on the other hand, it doesn't quite fit the beautiful image of this lake and its idyllic surroundings - the old church tower in Reschensee, known in Italian as Lago di Resia, is a real tourist attraction. Learn all about the tower and the sunken village of Graun in this article.

The sunken village of Graun | History

Vacation at Reschensee | The tower as a photo motif

Fancy a trip to South Tyrol?

Located at the border with Austria and Switzerland, specifically in the small Italian community of Graun in western South Tyrol, lies the nearly six-kilometer-long Reschensee. As beautiful as this wonderfully blue reservoir may look on sunny days, equally interesting and mysterious is the attraction that lies in the middle of the lake and is considered a landmark of the region around Vinschgau Valley. We are, of course, speaking of the sunken church tower of Alt-Graun, which was once known as St. Catherine's parish church.

However, the history of this church tower is less romantic than its appearance might suggest. The church was built in the 14th century. At that time, it was still surrounded by three lakes: Reschensee, Mittersee, and Haidersee. In 1950, a damming of the three lakes occurred at what is known as the Reschen Pass. This had long been planned by the fascist government and was intended for energy generation. The damming meant that Reschensee and Mittersee were merged - but it also meant that the entire village of Graun and a large part of the village of Reschen were submerged.

The residents of the small community were almost completely robbed of their existence, as a total of 163 houses were destroyed and more than 500 hectares of fertile farmland were flooded, for which the displaced had received little compensation. Today, only the remnants of the sunken village can be seen underwater, while only the old Romanesque church tower remains above water, having been preserved and restored several times for heritage protection. It is rumored that sometimes the bells can still be heard ringing from the depths...

Despite its sad history, Reschensee has become a very popular tourist destination in recent years. This is not only due to the infamous church tower rising from the lake, which serves as a very popular photo motif, but also because of the beautiful surroundings that invite activity and relaxation. The boat trips that introduce you to the history of the sunken village are not the only attraction here - the stunning western South Tyrol offers many more recreational opportunities.

Numerous idyllic hiking and biking trails wind around the lake, and in winter, many travelers from all over Europe come here for snowkiting, ice sailing, or skating. Since 2008, the International Snowkite Open world championships have even been held here every year. If you just want to take a break and relax in the midst of breathtaking natural scenery, you'll find a suitable spot here as well. Bring a small picnic basket, find a nice, quiet place in the green with a view of the lake, and enjoy your meal and the fresh mountain air. Simply wonderful!

The story of the church tower and the old village of Graun, which lies submerged in the lake, is not particularly idyllic. But perhaps it is precisely this past that makes the place so attractive. To know what lies beneath the water's surface and the fateful stories associated with it creates, in my opinion, an enormous fascination. The tower rising from the water as a remnant of this tragic past tops it all off. It is likely that the lake, with its church tower, is also a popular photo motif for this reason. The sight of this landscape conveys a sense of mystique and forgotten stories in every season, as these Instagram posts prove:

Have you now developed a desire for a little trip to South Tyrol and the mystical Reschensee? I can promise you that a trip to the beautiful and historically rich region around Vinschgau is definitely worth it. If you're already diligently planning your next vacation, take a look at my South Tyrol offers.

Vacation in South Tyrol & Italy