Frankenforstbach

The Frankenforstbach originates in the Hundsiefen in Bensberg and initially flows in a westerly direction. From the L288 onwards it runs through a culvert and is directed into the Sonnenwinkel retention basin, before continuing westward through the village of Frankenforst.

Over the course of its journey the stream goes by several different names: in its lower reaches it is known in turn as the Vürfelser Bach, Brücker Bach, Eggerbach, and finally Bruchbach. A historic name is Olifantbach, which derives from the hamlet of Olefant.

North of Frohnhof in Cologne-Merheim it joins the Flehbach from the right. This connection has existed since 1848 — before that, the stream seeped away in the Merheimer Bruch marshland. The combined watercourse then continues as the Faulbach towards Buchheim.

The Frankenforstbach catchment area covers 18.065 km² and extends across the Bergische Hochflächen (Bergisch upland plateaux) and the Bergische Heideterrassen (Bergisch heath terraces). Within the municipal area of Bergisch Gladbach, it is characterised predominantly by residential development.

The only named tributary is the Saaler Mühlenbach, which is 7.2 kilometres long and joins the Frankenforstbach from the right at Hüttenfeld.