Frechener Bach
A small stream that begins at the Frechen sewage works and, after 4.6 km, seeps away in Cologne's green belt near the Militärring – restored on Cologne territory.
The Frechener Bach begins at the sewage works in Frechen near Cologne, passes Haus Vorst, crosses the southern ring canal, runs by the Stüttgenhof and, after 4.6 kilometres, seeps away in the green belt near the Militärring ring road.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- stream with a historic spring in Benzelrath
- Length
- about 4.6 kilometres
- Start
- at the Frechen sewage works
- End
- seeps away in Cologne's green belt near the Militärring
- Location
- from Frechen to Cologne-Lindenthal
- Control
- sluices regulate flow and flooding
Until the Middle Ages this small stream, rising in Benzelrath, supplied the village of Frechen with drinking water and filled the moats of Haus Vorst and the Stüttgenhof – the Stüttgenhof still asserts water rights to this day.
Things to do here
- Follow the restored watercourse through the green belt
- Stroll past the Stüttgenhof estate
Course
From the sewage works the stream passes Haus Vorst and crosses the southern ring canal. Sluices regulate the outflow into the ring canal, the flooding of the Stüttgenhof moat and the discharge into the sewer near the Militärring. At the green belt the water finally seeps away.
History
Until the Middle Ages the stream, rising in Benzelrath, supplied drinking water to the village of Frechen and filled the moats of Haus Vorst and the Stüttgenhof. Around 1894 it was channelled during the construction of the Frechen–Cologne steam tramway; later it carried water from the Frechen sewage works into the ring canal.
Restoration
As part of Regionale 2010, long stretches of the Frechener Bach were returned to a more natural state. Since April 2018 the city of Cologne has also been revitalising the stream on Cologne territory: the previously straightened course, forced into a concrete channel, is being removed so the stream can return to its historic bed.
Timeline
- 1894Stream channelled during construction of the Frechen–Cologne steam tramway
- 2010Restored to a more natural course on long stretches as part of Regionale 2010
- 2018Start of the revitalisation on Cologne city territory
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-07-01
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