Forgotten Depths

Lake Resia is a picturesque alpine lake in South Tyrol, Italy, known for its eerie yet enchanting submerged church tower. Its story, however, is one of both natural beauty and human intervention that profoundly altered the lives of the local community.

In the mid-20th century, the creation of a large artificial reservoir necessitated the flooding of the area, merging three smaller natural lakes: Reschensee, Mittersee, and Graunsee. The project aimed to provide hydroelectric power for the surrounding region.

While the endeavor succeeded in its goal, it came at a steep cost: the village of Graun and part of Reschen were entirely submerged, displacing hundreds of residents.

Over the years, the site has become a symbol of resilience and a poignant reminder of the area’s history.

Ludwig was born in 1952, right after the lake was made. For over 40 years he’s been telling the story of the lake. He loves setting up his projector and going into detail with slides to help paint the picture of how the town used to be.

To the east there are three mountains; Peak 10, 11 and 12. These are named this way because between winter and spring, at 10am the sun’s on top of Peak 10, at 11am it’s at the top of Peak 11 and by 12pm, it’s at the top of Peak 12.

Ludwig’s knowledge has helped countless visitors navigate the sometimes unforgiving landscapes. In recent years, he’s been a key character in pointing migrants in the right direction as they journey over mountains from Italy into France in search of a new life.