Ghost Town Under Resia Lake – 10 Shocking Haunting Tales

Introduction — Ghost Town Under Resia Lake

Ghost towns have long fascinated travelers, offering eerie reminders of human history swallowed by nature. Among Europe’s most mysterious is the ghost town under Resia Lake (Reschensee) in South Tyrol, Italy. Known as Curon Vecchia, this once-thriving Alpine village was submerged in the 1950s to create a hydroelectric dam. Today, only the haunted bell tower of Curon pierces the water’s surface, a silent yet striking monument that sparks curiosity, sorrow, and countless ghost stories.

This article explores 10 haunting tales from the sunken village, weaving together folklore, history, personal memories, and paranormal legends. Whether you are a historian, a paranormal enthusiast, or a curious traveler, these tales reveal why the ghost town under Resia Lake remains one of Europe’s most unsettling yet enchanting hidden gems.

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1. The Sunken Village of Curon — Ghost Town Under Resia Lake

The first haunting tale is not a legend but a tragedy. In 1950, after decades of debate, the Italian government approved the construction of a dam to merge two natural lakes — Lake Resia and Lake Curon. Despite local resistance, nearly 163 families were displaced, their homes demolished, and their farmland drowned.

Villagers wept as bulldozers tore through their ancestral homes. Oral history tells of residents who stood by, clutching crucifixes, as walls crumbled. The final blow came when floodwaters rose, erasing centuries of tradition in a matter of weeks.

What makes this story haunting is the permanence — a whole way of life buried beneath 22 meters of water. The bell tower of the Church of St. Katharina, dating back to the 14th century, was left standing, now a ghostly sentinel that continues to watch over the drowned town.

Resia Lake Bell Tower Italy 7 Secrets Curon Sunken Village

2. The Haunted Bell Tower That Rings Without Bells

The most enduring legend of Resia Lake is the phantom ringing of the bell tower. Though the bells were removed before the flood, locals claim that on still winter nights, a faint tolling echoes across the valley.

Skeptics blame shifting ice or wind, but believers insist it is the voice of the drowned village, reminding the living of what was lost. Some tourists even report recording unexplained sounds during night visits.

The phantom ringing has become a symbol of Curon’s ghostly presence — a soundscape of sorrow that refuses to be silenced.

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🧚 Legends and Ghostly Tales

One legend says that the bells still ring on cold winter nights, even though they were removed before flooding. Locals describe it as the “voice of the lost village,” which has helped fuel the site’s mystical reputation.

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🚗 How to Visit – Ghost Town Under Resia Lake

• By Car: From Bolzano (2.5 hrs) or Innsbruck (2 hrs).
• Public Transport: Buses from Malles Venosta station.
• Parking: Free parking near the lakeside walking trail.

👉 Pro Tip: Visit at sunrise or sunset when the bell tower glows in golden light, perfect for photography.

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🌄 Top 10 Things to Do Around Ghost Town Under Resia Lake

1. Walk the Lakeside Trail (15 km loop)
2. Photography at Golden Hour
3. Winter Ice Walk to the tower
4. Cycle Around Lake Resia
5. Snowkiting & Skating in winter
6. Boat Ride in Summer
7. Curon Memorial Site honoring displaced families
8. Visit Glurns (Glorenza): A walled medieval town nearby
9. Explore Marienberg Abbey (monastery with frescoes)
10. Day Trips to Swiss & Austrian Alps

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🗓 Best Time to Visit – Ghost Town Under Resia Lake

• Summer: Vibrant reflections and cycling weather
• Autumn: Fewer tourists, colorful scenery
• Winter: Frozen lake, dramatic atmosphere
• Spring: Alpine flowers, but still cold

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🏨 Where to Stay

• Hotel Edelweiss, Resia: Lakeside views
• Gasthof Zum Hirschen, Sluderno: Traditional Tyrolean inn
• Farm Stays: Immersive local experience

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🍝 Food & Drink

• Speck Alto Adige: Smoked ham specialty
• Knödel (Bread Dumplings) with cheese or spinach
• Apple Strudel & Tyrolean wines

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🎥 Media & Pop Culture

The tower’s haunting silhouette has appeared in:

• Netflix series “Curon” (2020)
• Italian films & documentaries
• Viral travel photography on Instagram

Every new media mention leads to spikes in search volume — making it a high CTR potential topic for blogs.

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🗺 Nearby Hidden Gems –

• Ortler Alps: Epic hiking trails
• Swiss Engadin Valley: Scenic drive
• Lake Haidersee: Quieter nearby lake with birdlife

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3. The Curse of the Sunken Church

Folklore holds that the priest of Curon Vecchia cursed the dam builders before abandoning the church. According to the tale, he warned that the waters would never bring prosperity and that the valley would forever carry sadness.

Villagers point to the frequent storms and flooding in the region as evidence of this curse. Farmers displaced by the project also complained of bad luck in their new settlements. Whether true or not, the curse of the sunken church continues to fuel the lake’s mystique.

4. The Displaced Villagers’ Painful Memories

The tragedy of Curon is deeply human. Elderly survivors recall how they were forced to leave with little notice, carrying only what they could. Some families never recovered financially, while others fell into generational poverty.

Interviews with descendants reveal bitterness: “They stole not just our homes, but our history,” one resident said in a documentary. “The lake is beautiful, but it is built on our pain.”

Tourists often forget this human cost. For the displaced families, the ghost town under Resia Lake is not a travel attraction — it is an open wound in Italy’s past.

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5. Winter Ice and Ghostly Shadows

In winter, Resia Lake freezes, allowing visitors to walk up to the tower. Photographers capture breathtaking shots of the structure rising from the frozen surface. But some locals warn of ghostly figures seen drifting across the ice.

Legends say these shadows are the spirits of villagers who return each winter to revisit their homes beneath the frozen lake. Children dare each other to walk alone at night, where footprints in fresh snow are said to appear mysteriously without explanation.

This chilling atmosphere has made winter visits to the bell tower one of Europe’s most haunting seasonal experiences.

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6. Mysterious Drownings in Resia Lake

Over the decades, reports of drownings and accidents in Ghost Town Under Resia Lake have stirred whispers of paranormal interference. Divers often describe sudden currents near the submerged ruins, pulling them dangerously off course.

Some believe these waters are cursed, while others claim the ghosts of Curon guard the secrets of the drowned town. Fishermen avoid certain parts of the lake, saying nets sometimes snag on unseen ruins, only to rip apart mysteriously.

Though officials cite natural causes, the reputation of Resia Lake as a place where “the dead pull the living below” persists strongly in folklore.

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7. The Legend of Hidden Treasure

Before the flood, it is said some families buried valuables beneath their homes. Stories of hidden treasure — coins, jewelry, religious relics — passed down through generations have lured adventurers and amateur divers to Resia Lake.

While no treasure has ever been confirmed, the legend fuels imagination. Could the lake conceal lost wealth waiting to be uncovered? Or are these tales symbolic reminders of a community’s desperate attempt to hold onto its identity?

Either way, the legend ensures that the ghost town under Resia Lake is not just a grave of memories, but a vault of secrets.

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❓ FAQs – Ghost Town Under Resia Lake

FAQs About the Ghost Town Under Resia Lake

Q1: Can tourists see the ghost town underwater?
Only experienced divers can explore, but visibility is poor, and official dives are limited.

Q2: Why is only the bell tower visible?
It was left intact as a navigational landmark and cultural reminder, while other structures were demolished.

Q3: Is Resia Lake safe to visit?
Yes, the site is safe for tourists. However, caution is advised for swimming and diving.

Q4: What is the best season to visit?
Winter offers dramatic frozen views, while summer allows for hiking, cycling, and photography.

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📌 Must Visit

• Internal: Link to your posts on Iceland hidden canyons and La Monja Island, Manila Bay
• Source:
  • South Tyrol Official Tourism
  • Netflix Curon