Lacs des Grand et Petit Neuweiher, reservoir in France
Lacs des Grand et Petit Neuweiher are two lakes in the Vosges, with the larger covering several hectares and the smaller approximately one hectare. They sit in a wooded valley fed by small streams that flow between and into both bodies of water.
These lakes were carved out by glaciers long ago and formed as water accumulated in the hollows left behind. Dams were built from the 16th century onward to harness water for mills and forges, and were rebuilt in 1858 after the lakes had dried up during an earlier period.
Local stories tell of the Dambürle, a mysterious figure whose drumming once echoed through the valley and captivated those who heard it. These legends remain part of how people today understand and imagine this mountain region.
Access is on foot via well-marked hiking trails, roughly an hour from Rimbach or two hours from Oberbruck. Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes and note that swimming is not permitted, though fishing is allowed with local regulations.
When water levels drop, the remains of a farmhouse ruin become visible, submerged when the dams were rebuilt in 1858. These ruins offer a quiet reminder of how the landscape has changed over time.
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