Secrets of Lake Constance: Hidden wrecks and forgotten treasures!

Secrets of Lake Constance: Hidden wrecks and forgotten treasures!

Lake Constance, a popular holiday destination in Germany and Switzerland, hides not only idyllic beaches and picturesque villages, but also numerous secrets from times gone by. Between the gentle waves of the lake lie hundreds of shipwrecks, crashed aircraft and over 100 bodies of people who have been missing for years. These eerie treasures make the region a fascinating but also risky place for treasure hunters and amateur archaeologists.

The failed salvage project of the steamship Säntis, which was sunk in 1933, is particularly well known. The Swiss Ship Salvage Association attempted a salvage last year, but it was not successful. The ship is at a depth of over 200 meters and can therefore only be reached with special diving robots. In contrast, the Jura wreck, which sank after a collision in 1864, is very popular with amateur divers and is located at a depth of around 40 meters.

Salvage challenges

Cantonal archaeologist Hansjörg Brem is critical of the methods used by amateur archaeologists. He warns that improper handling of diving robots can lead to sometimes irreversible damage to the wrecks. In the past, especially after World War II, crude methods were used in treasure hunting, often resulting in significant destruction.

The Jura wreck is an example of such destruction, as souvenir hunters have severely damaged it. As a result, it was protected as an “underwater industrial monument” in 2004. Since then, divers have only been allowed to look at it. Previous salvage plans for the Jura have been abandoned, and the wreck will remain at the bottom of the lake.

History and number of wrecks

Lake Constance is home to an estimated 300 wrecks, of which up to 50 have been identified. The causes of ship sinkings range from storms and collisions to the effects of war. The oldest known watercraft from Lake Constance, a dugout canoe, dates back at least 3,000 years.

Finds prove that 52 people drowned when a ship sank off Lindau in 1422. A remarkable ship discovery occurred in 1981 off Immenstaad, where an 18 meter long hull was recovered and preserved. Dendrochronological dating indicates a construction period between 1325 and 1350. In the Middle Ages, Reichenau Monastery was known for shipping traffic on Lake Constance, and many other wrecks from that time have also left their mark.

While some ships such as the coal ship and the salt ship are still well preserved and provide new information about shipbuilding, many other wrecks, such as the Ludwig, which sank in 1861 after a collision, or the town of Radolfzell, which sank in 1919 due to overloading, have long since been recovered.

The recovery and protection of these treasures is a complex issue that includes both historical and security aspects. As Brem points out, it is often more difficult to preserve a ship on land than in water, further compounding the salvage challenges. Despite the risks that come with treasure hunting, Lake Constance remains a fascinating destination for history buffs and adventurers.

Anyone interested can find out more about the ship archaeological finds and the history of the wrecks in Lake Constance Swabian as well as Wikipedia visit.