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{{short description|River in Germany}}
{{Copyedit|date=January 2007}}
{{About|the Rhine tributary in Baden-Württemberg|the Main tributary in Hesse|Kinzig (Main)}}
{{Infobox_river
{{infobox river<!-- de:Template:Infobox Fluss -->
| river_name = Kinzig
| image_name = Kinzig Schwarzwald 1.jpg | name = Kinzig
| caption = The Kinzig near Schenkenzell | map = Kinzig (Rhin).png
| map_size = 280px
| origin = ]
| map_caption = Course of the Kinzig
| mouth = ]
| image = Kinzig 292.jpg
| basin_countries = ]
| length = 95 km | image_size =
| image_caption = The Kinzig in ]
| elevation = approx. 666 m
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| discharge =
| subdivision_name1 = Germany
| watershed =
| subdivision_type2 = ]
| subdivision_name2 = ]
| subdivision_type3 = Reference no.
| subdivision_name3 = DE:&nbsp;234
| length = {{convert|93.3|km|abbr=on}} {{GeoQuelle|DE-BW|LUBW}}
| width_avg =
| depth_avg =
| source1_location = ]
| source1_coordinates =
| source1_elevation = 682&nbsp;m
| mouth_location = In ]-]
| mouth_coordinates =
| mouth_elevation = 134&nbsp;m
| basin_population =
| basin_landmarks = {{ubl|Large towns: ], ]|Small towns: ], ], ], ], ], ]}}
| progression = {{RRhine}}
| basin_size = {{convert|1403|km2|abbr=on}} {{GeoQuelle|DE-BW|LUBW}}
| discharge1_location = at ] gauge <ref></ref>
| discharge1_min = Record low: 1.08&nbsp;m³/s<small> (in 14.09.1919)</small><br />Average low: 3.62&nbsp;m³/s
| discharge1_avg = 22.8&nbsp;m³/s
| discharge1_max = Average high: 296&nbsp;m³/s<br />Record high: 914&nbsp;m³/s<small> (in 24.12.1919)</small>
| tributaries_right = ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]
| tributaries_left = ], ], ], ], ], ], ]
| waterbodies =
| ports =
| bridges =
| custom_label = References
| custom_data =
| extra =
}} }}
The '''Kinzig''' is a ] in southwestern ], a right tributary of the ].


The '''Kinzig''' is a ] in southwestern ], a right tributary of the ]. It runs for 95&nbsp;km from the ] through the ]. The Kinzig valley and secondary valleys constitute the largest system of valleys in the Black Forest. Depending on the definition the Kinzig is either the border between the Northern and Middle Black Forest or part of the Middle Black Forest. It is located entirely inside the State of ] and its name is supposed to be of Celtic origin. It runs for 93&nbsp;km from the ] through the ]. The Kinzig valley and secondary valleys constitute the largest system of valleys in the Black Forest. Depending on the definition, the Kinzig is either the border between the ] and ] or part of the Middle Black Forest. It is located entirely inside the State of ] and its name is supposed to be of Celtic origin. During the ] the Kinzig and the ] created a common ] river system.

During the ] the Kinzig and the ] created a common ] river system.


== Course of the river == == Course of the river ==
The origin of the Kinzig is located on the land of the town of ] in the ]. It runs south, then makes a gradual turn to the West. It leaves the district of Freudenstadt right after it emerges from ], touches the ] and continues to spend the largest part of its course in the ]. The Kinzig leaves the Black Forest near ] and merges into the Rhine near ]. In its upper part the Kinzig is a true mountain river that over time has caused quite a few serious ]. In its middle and lower parts it has been squeezed into a straight river bed lined with tall ]. ] is in process in the area where the ] merges into the Kinzig. The origin of the Kinzig is located on the land of the town of ] in the ]. It runs south, then makes a gradual turn to the west. It leaves the district of Freudenstadt just after it emerges from ], touches the ] and continues to spend the largest part of its course in the ]. The Kinzig leaves the Black Forest near ] and flows into the Rhine near ]. The upper part the Kinzig is a true mountain river that over time has caused quite a few serious ]. Its middle and lower parts have been squeezed into a straight bed lined with tall ]. ] is in progress in the area where the ] flows into the Kinzig.


== Name == == Name ==
In ] the river was first mentioned in ''Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart'' as ''ad Chinzechun, ad aliam Chinzichun'', in ] the ''Staatsarchive Sindelfingen''referred to the river as Kinzicha. In ], ], ], ], ] and ] it was listed as Künzlin, Küntzgen, Kintzg, Kintzgen, Oberkentzgenwüß and Köntzig, respectively, until in ] it was referred to for the first time as Kinzig. In 1099 the river was first mentioned as ''ad Chinzechun, ad aliam Chinzichun'', in 1128 as Kinzicha. In 1539, 1543, 1560, 1620, 1652 and 1654 it was listed as Künzlin, Küntzgen, Kintzg, Kintzgen, Oberkentzgenwüß and Köntzig, respectively. In 1837 it was referred to for the first time as Kinzig.


According to ] and ] there is some argument about whether the name Kinzig can really be traced back to the ''ad Chinczechun, ad aliam Chinzichun'' of ]. Bach points to the usage in the northern ] where ''Kinzigs'' describe "paths at the bottom of a canyon through the ]". In Upper ] and ] rivers with the word Kinzig in their name usually describe a canyon. Some argue that the name developed from the ]ic ''kent'' meaning various kinds of quick movement or from the ] word ''Centica (Cinti)'' which means "water". According to ] and ] there is some doubt about whether the name Kinzig can really be traced back to the ''ad Chinczechun, ad aliam Chinzichun'' of 1099. Bach points to the usage in the northern ] where ''Kinzigs'' are described as "paths at the bottom of a canyon through the ]". In Upper ] and ] rivers with the word Kinzig in their name usually describe a canyon. Some argue that the name developed from the ]ic ''kent'' meaning various kinds of quick movement or from the ] word ''Centica (Cinti)'' which means "water".


With all these possibilities we return to Adolf Bach and Bruno Boesch who think these derivations doubtful. In addition, the question remains of how far the Celts or Pre-Celts had settled the Kinzig area, and which settlers had originally given the river its name. While these questions are difficult to answer for pre-historic times, fact is that the Kinzig only created a small canyon in its upper part. A completely different river with many twists and turns presents itself as it moves towards the ]. At the end of the last ] it wound its way through the Plains for a long time, on the way absorbing the ] and only joining the Rhine after it reached the general area of ]. With all these possibilities in mind, we can return to Adolf Bach and Bruno Boesch, who think these derivations doubtful. In addition, the question remains of how far the Celts or Pre-Celts had settled the Kinzig area, and which settlers had originally given the river its name. While these questions are difficult to answer for pre-historic times, the fact is that the Kinzig only created a small canyon in its upper part. A completely different river with many twists and turns presents itself as it moves towards the ]. At the end of the ] it wound its way through the Plains for a long time, on the way absorbing the ] and only joining the Rhine after it reached the general area of ].


== Tributaries == == Tributaries ==
In the Black Forest many tributaries empty into the Kinzig, including several longer streams of 20-30 kilometres in length, most coming from the north or south. The following is a list of those over 10 kilometres in length:
The following rivers flow into the Kinzig:


* ], from the right near the ] railway bridge, 20.2&nbsp;km and 62.9&nbsp;km².
{|
* ], from the left in ], 29.5&nbsp;km and 115.8&nbsp;km².
| valign="top" |
* ], formerly the ''Wolfach'', from the right in ], 30.8&nbsp;km and 129.6&nbsp;km².
* ]
* ], from the left near ]<!--the brackets are not for disambiguation, but an official part of the name! -->, 29.3&nbsp;km and 161.5&nbsp;km².
* ] (with ])
* ''Mühlbach'' or ], from the left near ], 10.5&nbsp;km and 24.9&nbsp;km².
* ]
* ], from the right near ], 18.9&nbsp;km (together with the rather larger ''Harmersbach'', the much longer of its two headstreams, the ] and the ]) and 102.9&nbsp;km².
| valign="top" |

* ]
The largest tributary overall reaches the Kinzig a little before its mouth in the ]:
* ]

* ]
* ], from the left near ], 56.8&nbsp;km and 338.2&nbsp;km².
* ]

|}
== Importance as a transport and trade route ==
=== Timber rafting ===
]]]
In the past, the Kinzig was very important for ]. The earliest mention of this trade on the Kinzig dates to the year 1339. The rafting towns of ] and ] had their own rafting corporations, which organized timber rafting to the Rhine and on to Holland; these corporations were the so-called ''Schifferschaften'' ("boatmen's associations"). They were given the sole rights of timber export by their respective overlords and ran a lucrative business that helped the towns' prosperity. ] writes in his '']'': ''"The people living by the River Kyntzig, especially around Wolfach, earn a living from the great quantity of construction timber, which the float down the waters of the Kyntzig to Strasburg and into the Rhine, and earn a great deal of money every year."'' Rafting on the Kinzig reached its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries and then again in the 18th century, when the demand for wood began to rise rapidly, as the Netherlands and England began to build their mighty naval and merchant fleets. The rafters could not match the capabilities of the newly introduced railways, however, and the last commercial ] ran down the Kinzig in 1896. Today, timber rafting festivals, museums in ], ] and ], as well as numerous technical facilities, such as ]s recall the timber rafting era.

=== Historical Roman road ===
]
The width, length and the favourable east-west direction of the middle and lower valley of the Kinzig make it important for as a communication route. For example, the ] built a road that passed through the valley: the Kinzig Valley Way (''Kinzigtalstrasse'') is a ] which was built under the Emperor, ], in 73/74 A.D. from ] through the valley to the simultaneously founded Roman town of ] (''Arae Flaviae'') and on to ]. It was mainly intended to create a shorter strategic link from Mainz to Augsburg, which had for a long time had to take a long detour via the ] (''Rheinknie'') at ]. During the ] in 69/70 this detour had proved a problem.


== The rafting profession == == Fauna and flora ==
=== Fauna ===
]]] The Kinzig has had great significance for rafters. The earliest mention of this profession was recorded in ]. The last commercial raft navigated the Kinzig in ]. To this day though rafters' festivals, rafting museums in ] and ], as well as numerous constructions such as dams remind of those times.
A regeneration program has been in progress since 2002 to re-introduce ] into the Kinzig by putting young salmon into the water and removing obstacles. These efforts seem to be successful as in early 2005, for the first time in 50 years, salmon ] were found in a river in ].


== Fauna == === Flora ===
The Kinzig valley is the deepest in the inner Black Forest. In the lower Kinzig valley the villages are below 200 metres above sea level. The climate in the valley is therefore milder than in most other areas of the Black Forest. In the lower valley fruit and ] are produced; Gengenbach, Ortenberg and Ohlsbach are well-known names of wine-growing villages, some of which are on the ]. The countryside around the Kinzig valley in spring blooms far earlier than the surrounding regions of the Black Forest.
A regeneration program has attempted since ] to re-introduce ] into the Kinzig by introducing young salmon and removing obstacles. These efforts seem to be successful as in early ], for the first time in 50 years, salmon ] was found in a river in ].


== Infrastructure == == Infrastructure ==
The width, length and favorable east-west direction in the middle and lower valley make the Kinzig valley important for infrastructure. Already the ] maintained a road that traversed the valley: The ''Kinzigtalstraße'' was a military road built under Emperor ] in ]/] from ] through the Kinzig valley into the Roman ] (Arae Flaviae) and on to ]. The main purpose of the road was to shorten the strategically important connection between ] and ]. Until this road through the Kinzig valley was built the connection took troops via the Rhine bend at ] and during the revolt of the Batavers in ]/] this had proved to be a problem. During construction of the road several Castelles were built: In addition to Rottweil the rest areas in ]-Rammersweier, Offenburg-Zunsweier, ], ], ]-] augmented by, as part of the ] the fortifications in ], ] and ]-Hausen. All of them were located in ] country except for Burladingen which was located in ] territory. The surprising discovery of the fortification in Frittlingen in ] only a few kilometers southeast of Rottweil shows that the ''Kinzigtalstraße'' was secured and covered with a tight net of military fortifications. The suggestion that in valley of the Kinzig itself another was home to another fortification has thus gained credibility. Until then, it was supposed that there must have been one or two more yet to be discovered fortifications merely on the basis that the distance between the known ones in Offenburg and Waldmössingen was very big. Another fortification is assumed in ] by the end of the ] however it is not clear whether it existed as early as ]/] or not until later in ]. The width, length and favourable east-west direction in the middle and lower valley make the Kinzig Valley important for infrastructure. The ] maintained a road that traversed the valley. The ''Kinzigtalstraße'' was a military road built under Emperor ] in 73/74 AD from ] through the Kinzig Valley into the Roman ] (Arae Flaviae) and on to ]. The main purpose of the road was to shorten the strategically important connection between ] and ]. Until this road was built, the connection took troops via the Rhine bend at ] and during the revolt of the Batavers in 69/70 AD, this had proved to be a problem. During construction of the road, several Castelles were built. In addition to Rottweil, the rest areas in ]-Rammersweier, Offenburg-Zunsweier, ], ] and ]-], were augmented by part of the ] fortifications in ], ] and ]-Hausen. All of them were located in ] country except for Burladingen which was in ] territory. The surprising discovery of the fortification in Frittlingen in 1992 only a few kilometers southeast of Rottweil shows that the ''Kinzigtalstraße'' was secured and covered with a tight net of military fortifications. The suggestion that the Kinzig Valley itself was home to another fortification has thus gained credibility. Until then, it was supposed that there must have been one or two more yet to be discovered fortifications merely on the basis that the distance between the known ones in Offenburg and Waldmössingen was very big. Another fortification is assumed in ] by the end of the 1st century however, it is not clear whether it existed as early as 73/74 AD or not until later in 98 AD.


Roughly at the same time that the ''Kinzigtalstraße'' was built Roman forts were constructed further north on the right side of the ] in places like ], ], ], ], ], ] (Lopodunum), ] and ] (Aquae). Whether these were advanced posts or whether the Roman border between ] and ] already followed a generally defined line east of the Rhine has not yet been determined. Roughly at the same time that the ''Kinzigtalstraße'' was built, Roman forts were constructed further north on the right side of the ] in places like ], ], ], ], ], ] (]), ] and ] (Aquae). Whether these were advanced posts or the Roman border between 73 and 98 AD, (following a generally defined line east of the Rhine), has yet to be determined.


Presumably from the year ] on the area of present day Southwest Germany to the ] and ] came under Roman control making the connection from Mainz to Augsburg shorter yet. As a result, the ''Kinzigtalstraße'' lost superregional significance. In 98 AD, in the area of present-day southwest Germany, the route between ] and ] came under Roman control, making the connection from Mainz to Augsburg shorter yet. As a result, the ''Kinzigtalstraße'' lost superregional significance.


In present day Germany federal highway ] runs parallel to the Kinzig from Offenburg on until it leaves the Kinzig in the upper valley to follow the ] towards ]. From ] on towards ] federal highway ] follows the upper Kinzig. In present-day Germany, the federal highway ] runs parallel to the Kinzig from Offenburg until it leaves the Kinzig in the upper valley to follow the ] towards ]. From ] on towards ], the federal highway ], follows the upper Kinzig.


For the '']'' train service the valley is also very important. It runs from Offenburg to Hausach where it turns into the Gutach valley to continue on to ] at the ]. In the upper Kinzig valley the '']'' provides a connection between Hausach and Freudenstadt. For the ] (''Schwarzwaldbahn'') train service, the valley is also very important. It runs from Offenburg to Hausach where it turns into the Gutach Valley to continue on to ] at ]. In the upper Kinzig Valley, the ] (''Kinzigtalbahn'') provides a connection between Hausach and Freudenstadt.


] ]
]]]

== Towns and villages ==


== Towns along the Kinzig ==
(starting at the origin) (starting at the origin)


Line 75: Line 114:
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
Line 87: Line 126:
* ] * ]
|} |}

== Castles, abbeys and stately homes ==

<gallery caption='Gallery'>
Schenkenburg.jpg|The Schenkenburg near Schenkenzell
Schloss wolfach im winter.jpg|Schloss Wolfach
Klosterkirche und Lorettokapelle.jpg|Abbey church and Loretto Chapel of the Capuchin abbey in Haslach, Feb 2006
GermanyBlackForestCastleHohengeroldseck.jpg|The ruins of Hohengeroldseck
Gengenbach3.JPG|Gengenbach Abbey
Schloss Ortenberg im Mai 2008.jpg|Schloss Ortenberg, May 2008

</gallery>

* ], ]
* ], ]
* ], ]
* ], Schiltach
* ], Wolfach
* ], ]
* ], ]
* ], between ] and ]
* ], ]
* ], ]

== See also ==
*]


== References == == References ==
{{de}} {{Reflist}}


== Sources ==
* Emil Imm (Hrsg.) - Land um Kinzig und Rench, Rombach-Verlag (1974)
* Emil Imm (ed.) - Land um Kinzig und Rench, Rombach-Verlag (1974)
* Kurt Klein - Leben am Fluss, Schwarzwald-Verlag (2002) * Kurt Klein - Leben am Fluss, Schwarzwald-Verlag (2002)
* STALF, A. (1932): Korrektion und Unterhaltung der Kinzig. Die Ortenau 19. pp 124-144. * STALF, A. (1932): Korrektion und Unterhaltung der Kinzig. Die Ortenau 19. pp 124–144.
* NEUWERCK, A. (1986): Der Lachsfang in der Kinzig. Die Ortenau 66. pp 499-525. * NEUWERCK, A. (1986): Der Lachsfang in der Kinzig. Die Ortenau 66. pp 499–525.
* Bach, Adolf, Deutsche Namenkunde, Bd. II/2, Heidelberg 1981 * Bach, Adolf, Deutsche Namenkunde, Bd. II/2, Heidelberg 1981
* Bahlow, Hans, Deutschlands geographische Namenwelt, Frankfurt 1985, p. 263 * Bahlow, Hans, Deutschlands geographische Namenwelt, Frankfurt 1985, p.&nbsp;263
* Boesch, Bruno, Kleine Schriften zur Namenforschung, Heidelberg 1981 * Boesch, Bruno, ] zur Namenforschung, Heidelberg 1981
* Buck, M. R., Oberdeutsches Flurnamenbuch, Stuttgart 1880, p. 130 * Buck, M. R., Oberdeutsches Flurnamenbuch, Stuttgart 1880, p.&nbsp;130
* Keinath, Walther, Orts- und Flurnamen in Württemberg, Stuttgart 1951 * Keinath, Walther, Orts- und Flurnamen in Württemberg, Stuttgart 1951
* Krahe, Hans, Unsere ältesten Flussnamen, Wiesbaden 1964 * Krahe, Hans, Unsere ältesten Flussnamen, Wiesbaden 1964
* Obermüller, Wilhelm, Deutsch – Keltisches Wörterbuch, 1872, Reprint-Druck, Vaduz 1993, Bd. II, pp 178f * Obermüller, Wilhelm, Deutsch – Keltisches Wörterbuch, 1872, Reprint-Druck, Vaduz 1993, Bd. II, pp 178f
* Springer, Otto, Die Flussnamen Württembergs und Badens, Stuttgart 1930, pp 53, 60 * Springer, Otto, Die Flussnamen Württembergs und Badens, Stuttgart 1930, pp 53, 60
* Traub, Ludwig, Württembergische Flußnamen aus vorgeschichtlicher Zeit in ihrer Bedeutung für die einheimische Frühgeschichte, in: Württembergische Vierteljahrshefte für Landesgeschichte, XXXIV. Jahrgang, 1928, Stuttgart 1929, p. 16 * Traub, Ludwig, Württembergische Flußnamen aus vorgeschichtlicher Zeit in ihrer Bedeutung für die einheimische Frühgeschichte, in: Württembergische Vierteljahrshefte für Landesgeschichte, XXXIV. Jahrgang, 1928, Stuttgart 1929, p.&nbsp;16


== External links == == External links ==
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* {{de icon}} * {{in lang|de}}
* {{de icon}} * {{in lang|de}}


{{Rhine Tributaries}} {{Rhine Tributaries}}
] {{Rivers of Germany}}
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Latest revision as of 22:22, 4 June 2024

River in Germany This article is about the Rhine tributary in Baden-Württemberg. For the Main tributary in Hesse, see Kinzig (Main).
Kinzig
The Kinzig in Wolfach
Course of the Kinzig
Location
CountryGermany
StateBaden-Württemberg
Reference no.DE: 234
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationLoßburg
 • elevation682 m
Mouth 
 • locationIn Kehl-Auenheim
 • elevation134 m
Length93.3 km (58.0 mi)
Basin size1,403 km (542 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationat Schwaibach gauge
 • average22.8 m³/s
 • minimumRecord low: 1.08 m³/s (in 14.09.1919)
Average low: 3.62 m³/s
 • maximumAverage high: 296 m³/s
Record high: 914 m³/s (in 24.12.1919)
Basin features
ProgressionRhine→ North Sea
Landmarks
Tributaries 
 • leftAischbach, Rötenbach, Schiltach, Schiltersbach, Kirnbach, Gutach, Schutter
 • rightLohmühle, Kleine Kinzig, Heubach, Sulzbächle, Ippichen, Langenbach, Wolf, Harmersbach

The Kinzig is a river in southwestern Germany, a right tributary of the Rhine.

It runs for 93 km from the Black Forest through the Upper Rhine River Plains. The Kinzig valley and secondary valleys constitute the largest system of valleys in the Black Forest. Depending on the definition, the Kinzig is either the border between the Northern and Middle Black Forest or part of the Middle Black Forest. It is located entirely inside the State of Baden-Württemberg and its name is supposed to be of Celtic origin. During the last glacial period the Kinzig and the Murg created a common Kinzig-Murg river system.

Course of the river

The origin of the Kinzig is located on the land of the town of Loßburg in the district of Freudenstadt. It runs south, then makes a gradual turn to the west. It leaves the district of Freudenstadt just after it emerges from Alpirsbach, touches the district of Rottweil and continues to spend the largest part of its course in the district of Ortenau. The Kinzig leaves the Black Forest near Offenburg and flows into the Rhine near Kehl. The upper part the Kinzig is a true mountain river that over time has caused quite a few serious floods. Its middle and lower parts have been squeezed into a straight bed lined with tall levees. Renaturation is in progress in the area where the Schutter flows into the Kinzig.

Name

In 1099 the river was first mentioned as ad Chinzechun, ad aliam Chinzichun, in 1128 as Kinzicha. In 1539, 1543, 1560, 1620, 1652 and 1654 it was listed as Künzlin, Küntzgen, Kintzg, Kintzgen, Oberkentzgenwüß and Köntzig, respectively. In 1837 it was referred to for the first time as Kinzig.

According to Adolf Bach and Bruno Boesch there is some doubt about whether the name Kinzig can really be traced back to the ad Chinczechun, ad aliam Chinzichun of 1099. Bach points to the usage in the northern Breisgau where Kinzigs are described as "paths at the bottom of a canyon through the loess". In Upper Alsace and Graubünden rivers with the word Kinzig in their name usually describe a canyon. Some argue that the name developed from the Celtic kent meaning various kinds of quick movement or from the Lepontic word Centica (Cinti) which means "water".

With all these possibilities in mind, we can return to Adolf Bach and Bruno Boesch, who think these derivations doubtful. In addition, the question remains of how far the Celts or Pre-Celts had settled the Kinzig area, and which settlers had originally given the river its name. While these questions are difficult to answer for pre-historic times, the fact is that the Kinzig only created a small canyon in its upper part. A completely different river with many twists and turns presents itself as it moves towards the Upper Rhine River Plains. At the end of the last ice age it wound its way through the Plains for a long time, on the way absorbing the Murg and only joining the Rhine after it reached the general area of Hockenheim.

Tributaries

In the Black Forest many tributaries empty into the Kinzig, including several longer streams of 20-30 kilometres in length, most coming from the north or south. The following is a list of those over 10 kilometres in length:

The largest tributary overall reaches the Kinzig a little before its mouth in the Upper Rhine Plain:

  • Schutter, from the left near Kehl, 56.8 km and 338.2 km².

Importance as a transport and trade route

Timber rafting

Rafters at the mouth of the Wolfach during the Rafter Festival, summer 2004 in Wolfach

In the past, the Kinzig was very important for timber rafting. The earliest mention of this trade on the Kinzig dates to the year 1339. The rafting towns of Wolfach and Schiltach had their own rafting corporations, which organized timber rafting to the Rhine and on to Holland; these corporations were the so-called Schifferschaften ("boatmen's associations"). They were given the sole rights of timber export by their respective overlords and ran a lucrative business that helped the towns' prosperity. Sebastian Münster writes in his Cosmographia universalis: "The people living by the River Kyntzig, especially around Wolfach, earn a living from the great quantity of construction timber, which the float down the waters of the Kyntzig to Strasburg and into the Rhine, and earn a great deal of money every year." Rafting on the Kinzig reached its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries and then again in the 18th century, when the demand for wood began to rise rapidly, as the Netherlands and England began to build their mighty naval and merchant fleets. The rafters could not match the capabilities of the newly introduced railways, however, and the last commercial timber raft ran down the Kinzig in 1896. Today, timber rafting festivals, museums in Gengenbach, Wolfach and Schiltach, as well as numerous technical facilities, such as weirs recall the timber rafting era.

Historical Roman road

An old travel map of the upper Kinzig valley, c. 1716

The width, length and the favourable east-west direction of the middle and lower valley of the Kinzig make it important for as a communication route. For example, the Romans built a road that passed through the valley: the Kinzig Valley Way (Kinzigtalstrasse) is a Roman road which was built under the Emperor, Vespasian, in 73/74 A.D. from Offenburg through the valley to the simultaneously founded Roman town of Rottweil (Arae Flaviae) and on to Tuttlingen. It was mainly intended to create a shorter strategic link from Mainz to Augsburg, which had for a long time had to take a long detour via the Rhine Knee (Rheinknie) at Basel. During the revolt of the Batavi in 69/70 this detour had proved a problem.

Fauna and flora

Fauna

A regeneration program has been in progress since 2002 to re-introduce salmon into the Kinzig by putting young salmon into the water and removing obstacles. These efforts seem to be successful as in early 2005, for the first time in 50 years, salmon spawn were found in a river in Baden-Württemberg.

Flora

The Kinzig valley is the deepest in the inner Black Forest. In the lower Kinzig valley the villages are below 200 metres above sea level. The climate in the valley is therefore milder than in most other areas of the Black Forest. In the lower valley fruit and wine are produced; Gengenbach, Ortenberg and Ohlsbach are well-known names of wine-growing villages, some of which are on the Baden Wine Road. The countryside around the Kinzig valley in spring blooms far earlier than the surrounding regions of the Black Forest.

Infrastructure

The width, length and favourable east-west direction in the middle and lower valley make the Kinzig Valley important for infrastructure. The Romans maintained a road that traversed the valley. The Kinzigtalstraße was a military road built under Emperor Vespasian in 73/74 AD from Offenburg through the Kinzig Valley into the Roman Rottweil (Arae Flaviae) and on to Tuttlingen. The main purpose of the road was to shorten the strategically important connection between Mainz and Augsburg. Until this road was built, the connection took troops via the Rhine bend at Basel and during the revolt of the Batavers in 69/70 AD, this had proved to be a problem. During construction of the road, several Castelles were built. In addition to Rottweil, the rest areas in Offenburg-Rammersweier, Offenburg-Zunsweier, Waldmössingen, Sulz and Geislingen-Häsenbühl, were augmented by part of the Alb Limes fortifications in Frittlingen, Lautlingen and Burladingen-Hausen. All of them were located in Upper Germanic country except for Burladingen which was in Rhaetian territory. The surprising discovery of the fortification in Frittlingen in 1992 only a few kilometers southeast of Rottweil shows that the Kinzigtalstraße was secured and covered with a tight net of military fortifications. The suggestion that the Kinzig Valley itself was home to another fortification has thus gained credibility. Until then, it was supposed that there must have been one or two more yet to be discovered fortifications merely on the basis that the distance between the known ones in Offenburg and Waldmössingen was very big. Another fortification is assumed in Rottenburg by the end of the 1st century however, it is not clear whether it existed as early as 73/74 AD or not until later in 98 AD.

Roughly at the same time that the Kinzigtalstraße was built, Roman forts were constructed further north on the right side of the Rhine in places like Frankfurt, Heddernheim, Karben, Groß-Gerau, Gernsheim, Ladenburg (Lopodunum), Heidelberg and Baden-Baden (Aquae). Whether these were advanced posts or the Roman border between 73 and 98 AD, (following a generally defined line east of the Rhine), has yet to be determined.

In 98 AD, in the area of present-day southwest Germany, the route between Odenwald and Neckar came under Roman control, making the connection from Mainz to Augsburg shorter yet. As a result, the Kinzigtalstraße lost superregional significance.

In present-day Germany, the federal highway B 33 runs parallel to the Kinzig from Offenburg until it leaves the Kinzig in the upper valley to follow the Gutach towards Villingen-Schwenningen. From Hausach on towards Freudenstadt, the federal highway B 294, follows the upper Kinzig.

For the Black Forest Railway (Schwarzwaldbahn) train service, the valley is also very important. It runs from Offenburg to Hausach where it turns into the Gutach Valley to continue on to Konstanz at Lake Constance. In the upper Kinzig Valley, the Kinzig Valley Railway (Kinzigtalbahn) provides a connection between Hausach and Freudenstadt.

The Kinzig near Biberach
The Kinzig near Steinach

Towns and villages

(starting at the origin)

Castles, abbeys and stately homes

  • Gallery
  • The Schenkenburg near Schenkenzell The Schenkenburg near Schenkenzell
  • Schloss Wolfach Schloss Wolfach
  • Abbey church and Loretto Chapel of the Capuchin abbey in Haslach, Feb 2006 Abbey church and Loretto Chapel of the Capuchin abbey in Haslach, Feb 2006
  • The ruins of Hohengeroldseck The ruins of Hohengeroldseck
  • Gengenbach Abbey Gengenbach Abbey
  • Schloss Ortenberg, May 2008 Schloss Ortenberg, May 2008

See also

References

  1. ^ Map services of the Baden-Württemberg State Office for the Environment, Survey and Conservation (Landesanstalt für Umwelt, Messungen und Naturschutz Baden-Württemberg)
  2. Deutsches Gewässerkundliches Jahrbuch Rheingebiet, Teil I 2009

Sources

  • Emil Imm (ed.) - Land um Kinzig und Rench, Rombach-Verlag (1974)
  • Kurt Klein - Leben am Fluss, Schwarzwald-Verlag (2002)
  • STALF, A. (1932): Korrektion und Unterhaltung der Kinzig. Die Ortenau 19. pp 124–144.
  • NEUWERCK, A. (1986): Der Lachsfang in der Kinzig. Die Ortenau 66. pp 499–525.
  • Bach, Adolf, Deutsche Namenkunde, Bd. II/2, Heidelberg 1981
  • Bahlow, Hans, Deutschlands geographische Namenwelt, Frankfurt 1985, p. 263
  • Boesch, Bruno, Kleine Schriften zur Namenforschung, Heidelberg 1981
  • Buck, M. R., Oberdeutsches Flurnamenbuch, Stuttgart 1880, p. 130
  • Keinath, Walther, Orts- und Flurnamen in Württemberg, Stuttgart 1951
  • Krahe, Hans, Unsere ältesten Flussnamen, Wiesbaden 1964
  • Obermüller, Wilhelm, Deutsch – Keltisches Wörterbuch, 1872, Reprint-Druck, Vaduz 1993, Bd. II, pp 178f
  • Springer, Otto, Die Flussnamen Württembergs und Badens, Stuttgart 1930, pp 53, 60
  • Traub, Ludwig, Württembergische Flußnamen aus vorgeschichtlicher Zeit in ihrer Bedeutung für die einheimische Frühgeschichte, in: Württembergische Vierteljahrshefte für Landesgeschichte, XXXIV. Jahrgang, 1928, Stuttgart 1929, p. 16

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