©Samfaitvoyager

Bavigne dam

Where? L-9635 Bavigne

The Bavigne dam, part of the Upper Sûre reservoir, was built in the 1950s, requiring the relocation of mills and farmsteads. Standing at 23 meters, it guards the lake's pristine water quality. Today, as a popular diving spot, it unveils submerged remnants like bridges and a mill, echoing a rich history amid the progress.

The Bavigne dam, an integral part of the Upper Sûre reservoir. Constructed in the 1950s as an extension of the Esch-sur-Sûre Dam, this strategic water source required the relocation of several mills and farmsteads nestled in the valley.

To preserve the pristine quality of the lake water, ingenious measures were implemented, such as the Bavigne dams, standing at a height of 23 meters. This structure act as a guardian, preventing driftwood, tree trunks, and sand particles from entering the lake.

The construction of the Upper Sûre reservoir necessitated the acquisition of over 400 hectares of land, prompting protests and debates. However, the inevitability of progress led to negotiations with developers or, in some cases, forcible expropriation.

Today, the Bavigne dam wall and the submerged remnants of the former Loutschmillen mill, located in the valley between Liefrange and Bavigne, offer more than a glimpse into the past. As a popular diving spot, the underwater tableau includes elements like two small bridges, an old road, the mill, the waterbed of the "Béiwenerbaach" stream, artifacts like amphorae and bicycles, and even intriguing discoveries such as a pirate boat and a skeletal presence. In the dance between history and progress, the Bavigne dam emerges as both a functional necessity and an inadvertent guardian of submerged stories waiting to be explored.

Opening hours

Contact

Address: Staumauer Bavigne
L-9635 Bavigne
Show on map

More sites

©Visit Éislek
National Strike Monument Wiltz
Visit the impressive monument commemorating the general strike during the Second World War. Learn more about the tragic events of that time that shaped Luxembourg's history.
Find out more
Përmeshaff – Estate ruins
Përmeshaff, a historic site near Kaundorf, traces its roots to 1195. Over the centuries, it evolved into a religious centre, attracting pilgrims to its chapel and healing springs. Despite enduring a devastating fire in 1936, recent archaeological efforts have unveiled layers of its rich history, highlighting significance of Përmeshaff as a cultural landmark.
Find out more
Saint-Roch church Insenborn
Discover the neo-Gothic splendour of the Insenborn church, built according to plans by architect Biver in 1861.
Find out more
©Visit Éislek
St. Lawrence Church Diekirch
The Laurentius Church in Diekirch was planned by Pierre Biwer and completed in 1868. It was declared a national monument in 2017.
Find out more
©Pancake! Photographie
free
with theLuxembourgPass
National Museum of Military History Diekirch
Discover life-size dioramas that sensitively depict the battles and lives of soldiers during the Second World War and explore the impressive collection of over 100,000 military artefacts!
Find out more
©Visit Éislek
Airmen's monument
Take a journey into the past to the airmen's memorial in Maulusmühle. The wreckage of the aircraft on the ground tells the tragic story of six American airmen who lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge.
Find out more
©Visit Éislek
Church Saints-Côme-et-Damien
The parish church of Sts Côme et Damien in Clervaux, built in 1910/1911 in the Rhenish-Romanesque style, impresses with its striking dome above the altar and its majestic twin towers with melodic chimes.
Find out more
©Visit Éislek
Memorial Site Schumann's Eck
At the strategic road junction "Schumannseck", the most murderous position war raged for weeks during the Battle of the Bulge. Today, the 1944-1945 Liberation Memorial stands here in the spirit of reconciliation and understanding between peoples as a memorial against war in the world.
Find out more
©Gaul’s Legacy Tours
US Memorial Diekirch
The US Memorial located in the municipal parc of Diekirch river remembers a number of US units that were present in and around the city, September 1944 – February 1945.
Find out more