Reschensee in winter

Excursion to Reschensee in winter - Vinschgau in South Tyrol

The largest lake in South Tyrol is Reschensee in Vinschgau. Who already came up with the idea of visiting Reschensee in winter? Probably only a few people. Anyway, I took this idea seriously and want to show you that the largest lake in South Tyrol is not only an admirable tourist destination in the summer but also in the winter.

How do I get to Reschensee?

Reschensee (Lago di Resia in Italian) is a 6 kilometer long reservoir lake in the village of Graun in Vinschgau and is also the largest lake in South Tyrol. There are actually two ways to reach the lake: From the south in South Tyrol, drive through Vinschgau, where after about an hour's drive through the region you will reach the village of St. Valentin an der Haide. St. Valentin is particularly easy to recognize because of Haidersee. However, this is not yet Reschensee in South Tyrol, a few more kilometers have to be covered.
On the other hand, the lake is reached from the north by the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. For this, you have to drive over the 1507 m high Reschenpass. Sightseers can also reach the largest lake in South Tyrol from Switzerland by crossing the Stelvio Pass and driving into the Vinschgau holiday region. However, they will be disappointed if they want to visit Reschensee in winter, as the Stelvio Pass is closed from November to June due to dangers.

A day trip to Reschensee

In the cold season, Reschensee, like Antholzer See, is frozen. This allows for a leisurely walk on the lake without any problems. When you arrive in Graun in Vinschgau, you can already see that the historic church tower is close to the shore. Some photos on the web may give the impression that the church tower is centrally located in Reschensee. However, this is not the case, as only a few steps separate the parking lot from the tower. Immediately, it becomes clear that there are numerous sports activities available here. Reschensee in winter is all about snowkiting. It is no coincidence that the German Snowkite Championship took place here in 2008. In 2002, Reschensee was even the venue for the Ice Sailing, Ice Surfing, and Snowkite World Championships. To engage in this sport, you only need a strong kite and a pair of skis. Another option at Reschensee in winter is cross-country skiing. It is a great experience to glide over the largest lake in South Tyrol and enjoy the panoramic view around the lake.
On the other hand, in the summer, Reschensee is the paradise for kitesurfers due to its optimal wind conditions. Another major highlight here is the so-called Reschenseelauf, a 15.3 kilometer long run around the lake, which will take place on Saturday, August 3, 2013 for the 14th time. The best runners complete the course in about 50 minutes. Of course, this requires good physical condition and strong legs. Without a doubt, the most relaxing option is the Seerundgang am Reschensee, which takes about 3 ½ hours.

My conclusion:

Reschensee is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in South Tyrol. Especially the church tower of Graun gives the lake a charming panorama. For swimming and beach lovers, the largest lake in South Tyrol may not be the ideal destination. Instead, Reschensee offers optimal conditions for runners, kitesurfers, snowkiters, and cross-country skiers.

A walk around Reschensee is highly recommended. You can enjoy great views of the villages around the lake, the church tower of Graun, and in southern direction, the Ortler.
However, such a round hike takes quite a long time. For me, the excursion to Reschensee in winter was a great experience that I can only recommend.