Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany — Central Europe

Ludwig-Donau-Main-Kanal (Ludwig Kanal) / The Ludwig Danube-Main Canal (Ludwig Canal)

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 25, 2019

1. Ludwig-Donau-Main-Kanal (Ludwig Kanal) / The Ludwig Danube-Main Canal (Ludwig Canal) Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Rhein, Main und Donau
wollte schon Karl der Große mit der ab 793 gebauten Fossa Carolina verbinden. Dieses Projekt griff der bayerische König Ludwig I. (1825-1848) wieder auf. Er beauftragte 1830 Hein- rich von Pechmann mit der Planung. Die Bauarbeiten dauerten von 1836-1846. Das Teilstück von Bamberg bis Nürnberg wurde 1843 eröffnet.

Der Kanal
war 173 km lang und führte von Kelheim nach Bamberg. Um die Höhenunterschiede auf dieser Strecke auszugleichen, baute man 100 Schleusen. Der Kanal hatte eine Breite von 15,80 m und war 1,46 m tief. Das höchste Transportaufkommen wurde im Jahr 1850 mit 200.000 Tonnen erreicht. Mit dem Siegeszug der Eisen- bahn (ab 1835 Strecke Nürnberg-Fürth) begann der Niedergang des Ludwigkanals. Nach Zerstörungen im 2. Weltkrieg wurde er 1950 weitgehend aufgelassen.

In Bamberg
erinnern die Schleuse 100, die eisernen Kräne (2) und die aus Sandstein 1840 gebaute Lagerhalle (3) an die kurze Blütezeit. Heute verbindet der Main-Donau-Kanal (Bauzeit 1960-1992) Nordsee und Schwarzes Meer.

(English translation:)

The

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Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers - Charlemagne wanted to connect the three rivers with the Fossa Carolina canal, constructed from 793 onwards. This same project was again undertaken by the Bavarian king Ludwig I (1825-1848). In 1830 he commissioned Heinrich von Pechmann for the designs, and construction was underway from 1836-1846. The section from Bamberg to Nuremberg was opened in 1843.

The Canal was 173 km long and led from Kelheim to Bamberg. To compensate for differences in elevation along the route, 100 locks were built. The channel had a width of 15.80 meters and was 1.46 meters deep. The highest transport volume was reached in the year 1850 with 200,000 tons. With the triumph of the railroad (from 1835 the Nuremberg - Fürth route) began the decline of the Ludwig Canal. After the damage wrought by World War II, it was mostly abandoned in 1950.

In Bamberg remnants of the canal from its heyday are Lock No. 100, the iron cranes (No. 2 in historical photo) and warehouse made of sandstone, built in 1840 (No. 3 in historical photo). Today, the Main-Danube Canal (construction period 1960-1992) connects the North Sea to the Black Sea.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.

Location. 49° 53.375′ N, 10°

Ludwig Kanal / Ludwig Canal Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 25, 2019

2. Ludwig Kanal / Ludwig Canal Marker - wide view

The marker is located to the side of the Nuns' Bridge, where a pedestrian path descends to go under the bridge.

53.404′ E. Marker is in Bamberg, Bayern (Bavaria). Marker is at the intersection of Am Kanal and Nonnenbruecke on Am Kanal. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bamberg BY 96047, Germany. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. E.T.A. Hoffman (within shouting distance of this marker); Upper Bridge and City Hall on the Bridge (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Franziskanerkirch / Franciscan Church (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Dr. Georg Michael von Weber (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Claus Graf Stauffenberg (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Altes Rathaus / Old City Hall (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Juliana Marc (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Bamberg's World War II Fallen and Missing (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bamberg.

Also see . . .
1. Ludwig Canal (Wikipedia). "The Ludwig Canal (German: Ludwig-Donau-Main-Kanal or Ludwigskanal), is an abandoned canal in southern Germany. It linked the Danube River at Kelheim with the Main River at Bamberg, connecting the Danube basin with the Rhine basin. The canal is named after King Ludwig I of Bavaria, and was built between 1836 and 1846.... The canal had a narrow channel, with many locks, and a shortage of water in the peak section, so the operation of the waterway soon became uneconomic — especially given the rapidly advancing construction of the railway network in the southern German countryside.

Inset photo: The Ludwig Danube-Main Canal (Ludwig Canal) image. Click for full size.

Photo courtesy of the Bamberg State Library, September 25, 2019

3. Inset photo: The Ludwig Danube-Main Canal (Ludwig Canal)

The canal was finally abandoned in 1950, rather than repair the damage suffered during World War II." (Submitted on November 13, 2019.)

2. The History of the Old Canal (Dr. Andre Kraut). (Submitted on November 13, 2019.)

The Ludwig Danube-Main Canal (Ludwig Canal) - lookng north image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 25, 2019

4. The Ludwig Danube-Main Canal (Ludwig Canal) - lookng north

Taken from the same location (Nuns' Bridge) and with the same perspective as the preceding photo, the crane and sandstone warehouse are still visible today.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 291 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 13, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.