The source of the Rhine

The source of the Rhine

Close to the Oberalp Pass lies the small, mystical Lake Toma in a basin at the foot of Piz Badus. This is the source of the Rhine. Here, the water from the lake gurgles merrily into the depths, marking the beginning of a flowing connection between the Alps and the North Sea. The source of one of Europe's most important rivers lies at Lake Toma. Discover this magical area and find out more about the natural attraction that is the source of the Rhine.

Discover the hike to the source of the Rhine

Legends from the region of the source of the Rhine

Pazola male

The little pazola is still occasionally seen at Lake Toma. ‘Sometimes, when the guests in the hut were making too much noise or doing who knows what else, it would knock energetically on the window,’ recalls an alpinist who knows the Badushütte well. ‘If someone opened the window, they would see a grey little man standing outside, with an angular face and bright shining eyes. Others saw it running along the slopes and finally disappearing between the boulders.’ According to the legends, such stone spirits and dwarves act as guardians of their territory, among other things.

The fairy of Lake Toma

According to legend, a very vain young woman lived in Tschamut. In order to show off all her beautiful clothes, she only went to mass when the congregation was already gathered in the church. In general, she enjoyed it when people looked around for her and would walk around the village for hours. As punishment for her vanity, she was banished to the Badus after her death, where she still has to show off her skirts to this day. When she walked along the ridge between Badus and Nurschlas in her red skirt and straw hat, the farmers knew that a bad storm was coming and hurried to get under cover, and the shepherds drove their flocks into the stables.

Mariuschla

The spring nymph Mariuschla lives in Lake Toma. During the day she sleeps and early in the morning she collects dewdrops from the meadows and fills the spring so that there is always enough water. Mariuschla is very curious and once wanted to know what it looks like on the other side of Lake Toma. She is swept along by the current and experiences exciting adventures all the way to the mouth of the lake.