The tower in Lake Reschen: the most unique photo you’ll take in Italy
Written by Madeline Jhawar
The photo below was not done in Photoshop, I promise. The medieval tower rises out of Lake Reschen, only a few miles from both the Swiss and Austrian borders (set foot in 3 countries in 1 day!). It’s not quite on the Rome-Florence-Milan-Venice route, but if you’re coming to Italy via Innsbruck, Austria, or are planning to ski or hike in the Dolomites or bike in the area, definitely stop for a visit.
“Ricordo dal passato – A memory from the past” by Cristina63 on Flickr- used with permission
The Story behind the Tower in Lake Reschen
The partly submerged bell tower (and fully submerged town) were not the result of a natural disaster but of a man made dam. Over 150 homes in the towns of Graun and Reschen were covered in water when the Montecatini energy company (now Edison Energia) dammed the area in the 1940’s to unite the Reschensee and Mittersee lakes.
Now just called the Reschensee (or Lago di Resia or Lake Reschen), it’s much more than a photo opportunity. In the winter, walk across the ice to the tower, or ski in the area. In the summer, kite-surf, cross the lake on a boat, or go hiking or mountain biking. Scuba divers say there isn’t much to see underwater anymore, since the rest of the submerged town has become mostly sediment.
Photo by Cristina63
Written by Madeline Jhawar
Italy Beyond the Obvious will help make your trip truly memorable. Take advantage of our Italy trip planning services for a customized itinerary.
