The 22 elements of
Augsburg's water system

1

Hochablass (Lech weir)

The Hochablass (High Drain) has been a major part of Augsburg’s water management system for more than 750 years. Most of the process water canals are generated from this point. Today’s installation derives from the extensive reconstruction which took place in the year 1912.

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Der Hochablass ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
2

Lech canals

The canals in the Lech quarter have delivered water power into the city for more than 1000 years. They were indispensable to the artisans and hand-craftsmen who benefited from the water and power supply which drove their waterwheels.

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Hinterer und Mittlerer Lech in der Augsburger Altstadt ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
3

Galgenablass (culvert)

The Galgenablass (culvert) is an important canal crossing, separating drinking water and process water canals in the Stadtwald and regulating their flow.

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Der Galgenablass im Augsburger Stadtwald
4

Waterworks at Rotes Tor

The ensemble is the oldest existing waterworks buildings in central Europe. Beginning in the year 1416, they served to provide Augsburg’s drinking water supply for 463 years.

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Großer und Kleiner Wasserturm des Wasserwerks am Roten Tor ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
5

Lower Waterworks

The ensemble of the Lower Waterworks with the Liliom cinema consists of the Lower Watertower, the pumping house and the water supply lead over the cast iron Zirbelnuss canal bridge. It is Augsburg's second largest and second oldest waterworks.

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Das Untere Brunnenwerk (ehemaliges Pumpenhaus mit Brunnenturm) ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
6

Waterworks at Vogeltor

The waterworks was, as already a predecessor on the city wall, built in the immediate vicinity of the bird's gate in 1774 on a former fortress tower. The waterworks were used primarily for the drinking water supply in the Lech quarter.

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Das Brunnenwerk am Vogeltor ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
7

Augustus Fountain

The fountain on the Rathausplatz (Town Hall Square) was completed in 1594. It was designed by the Dutch artist, Hubert Gerhard. In addition to the city´s founder Caesar Augustus, bronze sculptures of four river gods represent the main watercourses in Augsburg.

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Der Augustusbrunnen auf dem Rathausplatz in Augsburg
8

Mercury Fountain

The bronze sculptures of the fountain were designed by Adriaen de Vries and cast in 1599. A cupid at his feet unties Mercury’s sandal to keep the god of trade in the city and to thereby secure its wealth.

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Der Merkurbrunnen ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
9

Hercules Fountain

Like the Augustus and the Mercury Fountain, the Hercules Fountain, created by Adriaen de Vries, embodies Augsburg’s pride in its wealth of water resources. The Kastenturm at the Red Gate was erected as an additional water tower to supply water for the fountains.

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Der Herkulesbrunnen ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
10

Stadtmetzg

The building (Trade Guild House for the Butchers) was erected in 1609 by Elias Holl. Its innovative use of canal water was a novelty: The Vorderer Lech canal was guided through the basement of the Stadtmetzg to keep the meat cool and to dispose of the waste.

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Die Augsburger Stadtmetzg ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
11

Waterworks at Hochablass

Modern drinking water supply in Augsburg was introduced in the year 1879 with the waterworks at Hochablass. It was one of the rare waterworks using water power for pumping and pressure vessels, setting new standards.

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Die Maschinenhalle im Wasserwerk am Hochablass ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
12

Power plant at the Stadtbach

The power plant has been in service since 1873. Parts of the original equipment have survived. The plant once supplied the energy for the cotton spinning mill at the Stadtbach which was the largest spinning mill in the German Zollverein (customs union).

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Das Kraftwerk am Stadtbach ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
13

Power plant at the Fabrikkanal

The Twining and Thread Factory in Göggingen began operating the power plant in 1885. The Fabrikkanal was fed by the Wertach river and was built especially to provide waterpower.

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Das Kraftwerk am Fabrikkanal ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
14

Power plant at the Singold

The plant was put into use in 1887 with a direct cogwheel drive transmission of the textile mill, comparable to that of the Fabrikkanal plant nearby. Parts of the drive transmission have survived, but gears were later implemented to generate electricity.

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Das Kraftwerk an der Singold ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
15

Power plant at the Wolfzahnau

This power plant was built in 1903 at the confluence of the Lech and the Wertach rivers. It currently supplies 15,000 people with electricity. The four meter high flywheel power generator was exhibited as a symbol of the art of German engineering at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1900.

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Das Kraftwerk an der Wolfzahnau ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
16

Power plant Gersthofen

The first large power plant at the northern Lech canal initiated service in October of 1901. This marked the beginning of the comprehensive supply of electricity in the whole of Bavarian Swabia. The Lech canal was built especially for this plant.

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Das Kraftwerk Gersthofen ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
17

Power plant at the Senkelbach

The machine and bronze wares producer Riedinger already began utilizing water power in 1865. The power plant building in today's Riedinger Park is the oldest of our UNESCO World Heritage site.

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18

Power plant Langweid

Built in 1906 along with the first extension of the Lech canal, this plant still produces electricity. It is also home to the Bavarian Lech Museum, which features the river in all of its multifaceted development.

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Turbinenrad im Kraftwerk Langweid ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
19

Power plant at the Wertachkanal

The plant was erected in 1920 at the then new Wertachkanal. The two Francis-twin-turbines produced electric power for the tram system and utilized 26.5 cubic meters of water per second.

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Maschinensatz im Kraftwerk am Wertachkanal ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
20

Power plant at the Proviantbach

The Dierig textile group steered it's power supply from the control center inside this power plant until 1995. The plant has been in use since 1923 and delivers electric energy to around 5000 people.

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Maschinenhalle im Kraftwerk am Proviantbach ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
21

Power plant Meitingen

The plant was built between 1920 and 1922 - the last one on the Lech canal. At that time it was needed in order to supply electric power for the Siemens-Plania electrochemical factory nearby.

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Das Kraftwerk Meitingen ©Martin Augsburger/Stadt Augsburg
22

Canoe Course (Eiskanal)

The first artificial whitewater canoe course was built for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. It is still host to numerous international competitions. The Ice Canal has been used for canoeing since 1945.

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Eiskanal / Kanustrecke in Augsburg

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