Lake Reschen is an artificial lake in the northwest corner of South Tyrol, Italy, approximately 2 km (1 mi) south of the Reschen Pass, which forms the border with Austria, and 3 km (2 mi) east of the mountain ridge forming the border with Switzerland.
Lake Reschen is also called Lago di Resia (Italian) and Reschensee (German/Deutsch). It is the largest lake above 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in the Alps. The lake is famous for the steeple of a submerged 14th-century church known as the Church of Curon-Venosta.
The church went under water when the valley was flooded to build an artificial dam, against the wish of many locals, in the late 1940s. However, the Church steeple rose above water level in recent decades, making the lake and its surroundings a tourist destination. The lake was prominently featured in the Netflix original Italian series “Curon”.
The lake is accessible via the regional highway. It is under 2-hour drive from Innsbruck, Austria or Bolzano, Italy. It is also not too far from the famous Umbrail Pass in Val Mustair, Switzerland and the adjoining Stelvio Pass, Europe’s most popular and second highest pass known for it’s many hairpin turns.
When the water freezes, the lake can be reached on foot. A legend says that during winter one can still hear church bells ring. In reality the bells were removed from the tower on July 18, 1950, a week before the demolition of the church nave and the creation of the lake.
Watch the video below for a brief look at Lago di Resia and it’s famous submerged Church steeple of Curon Venosta.
All Around The World 