The submerged bell tower of Curon Venosta is all that remains of a village displaced by the 1950 dam project.
Lake Reschen is a man-made reservoir created by the unification of two smaller natural lakes and one artificial basin.
The pass marks the cultural and linguistic boundary between the German-speaking South Tyrol and the remainder of Italy.
The frozen surface of the lake is used for snowkiting during winter due to the consistent, powerful Maloja wind.
The bell tower is a protected historical monument despite being physically detached from any remaining village structures.
The reservoir's water level is artificially managed for hydroelectric power generation, occasionally revealing the foundation ruins of the original village.
Reschen Pass serves as the high-altitude border crossing connecting the Vinschgau valley in South Tyrol, Italy, with the North Tyrol region of Austria. The location is most famously defined by the 14th-century church tower of Old Graun, which remains submerged in Lake Reschen following the 1950 construction of a hydroelectric dam. The pass reaches an elevation of 1,507 meters above sea level and functions as a significant watershed divide between the Adige and Inn river basins. Visitors utilize the area for access to the Reschensee, a man-made reservoir that covers the former site of three historical villages. The region remains a year-round hub for outdoor sports including kite-surfing, cycling, and alpine skiing. The surrounding topography offers panoramic views of the Ortler Alps. Historic transit routes have been utilized here since the Roman era when the Via Claudia Augusta passed through this saddle.
The shoreline boardwalk facing the bell tower provides the most direct perspective of the structure emerging from the water.
Visit during winter when the lake freezes, allowing you to walk across the ice directly to the base of the sunken bell tower.
Bring wind-resistant clothing, as the pass geography creates consistent, high-velocity wind conditions year-round.
Combine your trip with a ride on the Vinschgau railway or the local cycling paths that trace the ancient trade routes.
Do not attempt to walk on the lake ice during the early spring thaw when the surface thickness becomes unstable.
Respect the site as a war-time displacement memorial; refrain from climbing on the exterior of the bell tower.
