From the river into the city
Augsburg’s engineers and scholars were very resourceful in damming and redirecting the water of the rivers Lech, Wertach and Singold so that it would reach the entire city. In this achievement they were the European forerunners.
1. Lech weir at Hochablass
2. First Lech canals
3. Galgenablass (culvert)
4. Waterworks at Rotes Tor and Aqueduct
During a visit to the old town, you see them at every turn: the canals, which have already carried water in and out of the city since the 8th century. They flow through the entire city, similar to the arterial system in the human organism. The canal systems of the Lech and the Wertach rivers run parallel to one another and culminate shortly before they join at Wolfzahnau and then each one returns to its river of origin.
Very few cities in Germany have more canals than Augsburg. This is the reason that there are indeed more bridges here than in Venice. More than 500 to be sure! In the picture here is the Schwallech near St. Ursula in the old town.
Hochablass (High drainage weir) has been documented since 1346. From this point the water of the Lech is directed into the canal system. The Galgenablass (culvert) has existed since the 16th century. It is a water crossing where the drinking water and the process water are separated before flowing into the city.
In the 13th century Hochablass (High Drain) was already the most important diversion on the Lech for transporting process water into the canals.
The Galgenablass (culvert) is the most important water crossing in the city’s forest. At one time there was a sluice here.
Water for the upper city
Separated by a wooden bulkhead, the Lech water and the spring water flowed over the aqueduct on the Red Gate and then into the city.
The water that flowed into the city by way of the Aqueduct was sent through the water towers beginning in the year 1416. This makes the Waterworks at the Red Gate the oldest existing in Germany and also in central Europe. This is the most significant feature in the World Heritage.
