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Lake Reschen

Today, the beautiful bell tower peaking up from the Reschen lake's waters, represents one of the most loved places to take pictures in Vinschgau. It is one of the places tourists love the most, even though not everyone knows the sad story that lies behind this attraction.

Since about the middle of last century, the town of Graun has been lying under the lake's surface. That story begins when, between 1948 and 1950, the big Electric Company Montecatini came to this area to make good business out of nature's power. That is the reason why the company wanted to build a huge dam which buried Graun under water.

500 hectares of cultivated ground and more than 150 houses were drowned. Lots of families, in spite of the little money the company gave them, had a present with no future. Some moved away, some others tried to build a new life and home in upper Graun, where they still live today.

Nature's wounds have been healed quite fast, but the ones in people's hearts are still there, in the hearts and remembering of the ones who saw their home sinking. Today, the bell tower is surely a nice spot to take a beautiful picture, but surely, if you will visit Graun, one thought about what happen will come to your mind and, maybe, you will look down in the Lake Reschen and imagine the town sleeping underneath the water.

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Reschen lake
Reschen lake

Graun is known for its old Romanesque chruch tower which rises up from the waters of Reschensee.

© Ferienregion Obervinschgau
Bike tour at Lake Reschen
Bike tour at Lake Reschen

The cycle paths in South Tyrol are a paradise for families.

© Vinschgau Marketing - PhotoGrünerThomas
Bike tour at Lake Reschen
Bike tour at Lake Reschen

Discover South Tyrol by bike with the whole family

© Vinschgau Marketing - PhotoGrünerThomas
Schöneben & Haideralm hiking area
Schöneben & Haideralm hiking area

View of Lake Reschen

© Schöneben AG
MTB at Lake Reschen
MTB at Lake Reschen

Dreamlike tour with view of the church tower of Lake Reschen

© IDM Südtirol - Kirsten-J. Sörries
Etschtal cycle path
Etschtal cycle path

Cycling in Vinschgau at Lake Reschen

© IDM Südtirol - Matt Cherubino
Graun in Vinschgau
Graun in Vinschgau

View from Schöneben to Lake Reschen, Graun and Langtaufers

© Ludwig Schöpf
Lake Reschen
Lake Reschen

Frozen Lake Reschen with Mt. Ortler in the background

© Ludwig Schöpf
Church tower emerging from Lake Reschen
Church tower emerging from Lake Reschen

In winter, when the lake is frozen and the ice is thick enough, you can walk to the church tower on the ice.

© IDM_Vinschgau Marketing - Frieder Blickle
St. Valentin auf der Haide
St. Valentin auf der Haide

St. Valentin auf der Haide is part of the City of Graun. The country is situated between Lake Haider and Lake Reschen.

© Internet Consulting - Patrick Kammerlander
Church tower in Lake Reschen
Church tower in Lake Reschen

The church tower of Alt-Graun is still today proof of the village's history and has become the landmark of Reschenpass holiday region.

© Frieder Blickle - Vinschgau Marketing
Graun
Graun

Lake Reschen in winter

© Kurt Michel / pixelio.de
Graun in Vinschgau
Graun in Vinschgau

Tower in Lake Reschen

© berggeist007 / pixelio.de
Graun
Graun

Tower in Lake Reschen

© Joujou / pixelio.de
Reschen / Resia
Reschen / Resia

Tower in Lake Reschen / Resia

© Joujou / pixelio.de
Reschen
Reschen

Lake Reschen in autumn

© hegadex.com / Fotolia.com
Reschen
Reschen

Lake Reschen

© LianeM / Fotolia.com

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