Part 4 of Sabine’s lake portraits tells you about no fewer than ten lakes! The Spronser lakes above Meran are part of the Texel Group Nature Park and make up Europe’s largest high mountain lake district. So come and discover these beautifully clear mountain waters and their invigorating ancient powers!

The Spronser lakes

The ten Spronser lakes are located above the city of Meran, amidst unspoilt flora and fauna, at altitudes ranging from 2,120 metres to 2,590 metres above sea level. They supply water to the city and the surrounding area and therefore merit protection not just in hydrological terms as a natural monument, but also as a vital water source.

Water power!
The names of some of these mountain lakes reveal aspects of their character: the two Milchseen or milk lakes, the Langsee or long lake (the largest, inhabited by char), the Grünsee or green lake, the Schwarzsee or black lake, the Schiefersee or slate lake, the Kesselsee or kettle lake and, last but not least, the little Mückenlacke or midge pond. The origins of the names have been lost in time, but I recommend that you let the astonishing power of these places work its effect on you as you let your imagination run wild – every time I visit, I think up all kinds of stories about how the names might have come about! :-)

There are several starting points from where to reach these crystal-clear natural treasures: from Dorf Tirol by cable car to the Hochmut peak, then continuing via the Jägersteig trail to the Oberkaser mountain inn; through the Spronser Tal valley past the Bockerhütte refuge; or via the steep Hochgangscharte. These tours require surefootedness and a head for heights – but you are rewarded with fantastic views in the high alpine landscape. The best way to find out more is to ask our hiking experts in Meran and environs for the best routes and also for the various refuges and places to stop for refreshments. Important: always check the day’s weather conditions and forecast before setting off!

 

A powerful beauty
On the way up to the lakes, in the lower part of the Spronser lake district – more exactly, on the Pfitscher Sattel – there are mysterious traces of a Bronze Age place of worship. The form of the cup marks and rock carvings that can be made out here are unique in South Tyrol: they indicate that, even thousands of years ago, people would turn their gaze to the stars in the night sky – perhaps to seek orientation or to discern the will of the gods. Those who after a demanding climb finally reach the lakes to contemplate the waters from their shores or from one of the surrounding peaks, for example the Spronser Rötelspitz, all have one word on their tongue... and in their heart: OVERWHELMING!
The overwhelming, ancient and mystical beauty makes this a place that will touch something inside us – a feeling that may well have been shared by our ancestors as they sensed the forces present in this area.

 

Do you too feel the powerful attraction of these lakes? Then it’s off to the hiking specialists in and around Meran!

Yours from the heart, Sabine