The Bleeding Lake | engelchanneling®
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Alatsee near Fuessen
The small Alatsee is located six miles west of Fuessen. The most famous building in Fuessen is probably Neuschwanstein Castle.
Since time immemorial, many secrets, legends, and myths have surrounded the lake, which actually looks quite normal. Were it not for the stories that reach into the present day.
Diving there is strictly prohibited and only allowed with a special permit. Allegedly, the lake is funnel-shaped, which has not been proven to this day, as dangers lurk in the depths of the lake that are also responsible for the reddish coloring in the underground. When this happens, the locals say: "The lake is bleeding!" People back then assumed that the lake goes down in a funnel shape and that many passages and caves branch off from there. Some underground passages are even said to reach as far as Austria.
Sometimes this coloring is said to rise to the surface, representing the lake as a bleeding body of water. Meanwhile, as is now known, a toxic and stinking layer of sulfur-eating purple bacteria is located at a depth of only 50 feet. Under these conditions, no more life is possible. This is a unique phenomenon worldwide and, according to scientists' estimates, is related to the gypsum that the rain washes from the rock walls into the lake.
◆ Legends and Mythical Creatures ◆
Ancient legends tell of mystical mythical creatures that dwell there in the mountain slopes. But also of the Salober spirit that is said to haunt the area, as well as a white lady and the Key Monk of Faulenbach. Dwarves are also said to be up to no good there, promising people gold.
But what exactly are all these legends?
We have done a little research.
The legend that we would assign first is the following: Three greedy sisters who lived a long time ago got into a bitter argument over the beautiful landscape. "All the land that the sun shines upon shall belong to me, ME...!" they shouted down from their castle in turns. Thus, the ground around them is said to have collapsed, and a chasm opened up from which water bubbled forth and created the lake. The three squabblers are said to still sit in the lake today, cursed forever, and are said to sigh to young men: "Give me your love!" If a young man were to fall in love, they would be redeemed.
Another legend tells of the Salober spirit. On the slopes of the Salober towards Alatsee, the Salober spirit has always haunted the area and frightened people at night who came near him. For a while, he is even said to have accompanied them on their way, only to disappear without a trace. A few times, hikers have heard him complaining or calling out in a quiet voice, only to suddenly vanish into thin air.
◆ The Spirit of the Salober ◆
"I feel quite sick and not at all well,
I know not to whom I should tell."
(The latter sentence implies that he also doesn't know who to thank for his condition or to whom he should report it).
This is all that can still be found regarding the Salober spirit. However, there is also the story of the Salober Gold. On the Salober, a farmer once found a pile of very strange stones above the Vils Castle. He thought to himself that he would take a few of them with him. When he got home and wanted to take the stones out, he had several brand-new gold coins in his pocket.
He quickly ran back to the Salober to get more, but the pile of stones is said to have disappeared. Legends in which worthless things turn into gold are widespread throughout the Alpine region. It is suspected that this points to former mining areas or riches of a spiritual nature.
◆ The Key Monk and the White Lady ◆
Then there is the legend of the Key Monk of Faulenbach. He is said to haunt the Faulenbach Valley for eternity, as he can find no rest. Allegedly, in his time, he locked a woman in his hermitage and then violated her. After he had dishonored her, it is said that he sank her in the lake in a wooden box with many locks. The curse originates from her, which is why the lake was actually not fished for centuries. The Key Monk, however, will only find peace when he has unlocked the locks corresponding to the forty-four keys on his ring.
There is also talk of a White Lady who always fished there until the responsible monastery forbade her from fishing. She is said to have complained so much against this injustice that a landslide occurred and all the fishes died. Thus, even the monastery could no longer fish the lake. This White Lady is said to still haunt the area.
So many myths and legends surround the Alatsee that it is impossible to tell them all. It is also said that careless hikers are lured into the lake or pushed into crevices. Mythical creatures and strange beings supposedly dominate this area to such an extent. Since fish deaths occurred repeatedly and people kept disappearing, the lake is still considered an ill-reputed place by the local population. These deaths are likely attributable to the release of hydrogen sulfide.
◆ The Nazis and the Gold Treasure ◆
Around 1942, the Nazis are said to have set up a research laboratory for Hitler's secret weapons at the lake and tested them there. Even the physicist Wernher von Braun is said to have stayed as a guest at the Hotel Alatsee for a long period. Remains from experiments of that time have been found in the lake.
On May 2, 1945, W. v. Braun had himself escorted to Reutte in Austria (12 miles away). The most significant scientist of the Third Reich surrendered there to the Americans. After the war ended, the Americans searched the area for a long time. Based on the facts, it is claimed that the Nazis sank their gold in the Alatsee back in May 1945. There is no proof for this, only conjectures. The fact is that several companies from the Fuessen barracks sealed off the area at that time. The lake became an absolute restricted zone.
If locals roamed curiously near the lake at that time, they risked their lives. Ultimately, at that time, a military secret was more important than a human life. In 1950, the Americans again had the area declared a restricted zone. American divers searched the lake. But it continued for decades. Private individuals scoured the lake for treasures and military equipment. Everything that could be turned into money was sought after and sold off. Inevitably, people died in accidents because they ventured too deep into the lake with the purple bacteria. Subsequently, an absolute diving ban was issued and the lake was completely cleared.
◆ The Ongoing Search ◆
The treasure has still not been found, and the search continues. However, the search moved to the shore. Even today, according to reports, former agents from all over the world are said to roam there looking for things. Also, the Mossad (Israeli secret service) as well as Eastern European specialists after the fall of the Iron Curtain have searched and are still searching.
The most well-known clients are the Rothschild heirs. They hope that the spectacular family jewelry will be recovered. Officially, nothing was ever found. Treasure hunters also still wander around to enrich themselves with potential finds. In any case, diving here is now strictly—and rightfully—prohibited.
Additionally, an adjacent pasture is closed year-round, which seems quite surprising. We have never encountered a place that contains as many legends, myths, and stories as the "Bleeding Lake." So we set out on our way.
Summary: A place with history, but very overcrowded. The silence and nature remind one more of the "Stachus" in Munich than a mystical pole of tranquility. It gives the impression that the many people have desecrated this mystical place through their greed. We found ancient rock carvings and some other oddities. It shows that this lake indeed has an enormous amount of history—part of it is still hidden and should remain so.
