The Franconian Saale (, ) is a 140 km long river in Bavaria, Germany.

Flooding

Towns and villages close to the Saale that are particularly affected by regular flooding are Bad Kissingen, Westheim, Diebach, Gräfendorf, Wolfsmünster and Gemünden, as the highwater marks on historic buildings show. Bad Kissingen rarely escapes several flooding each year. However, flood protection measures involving the construction of weirs and defensive barriers have been implemented in its historic town centre.

Gauging stations

Gauging stations are located in Bad Kissingen (the Prinzregentenbau Gauge) and Wolfsmünster (Saale Bridge Gauge). The measurements are published by the Schweinfurt Water Authority (Wasserwirtschaftsamt Schweinfurt).

Tributaries

thumb|Confluence of the two headstreams near Untereßfeld

thumb|Mouth of the Sinn on the Franconian Saale

thumb|The Franconian Saale in Bad Kissingen (spa park)

After the confluence of the two headstreams the following tributaries flow into the Franconian Saale:

  • The Krummengraben near Bad Königshofen (from the right)
  • The Barget near Kleineibstadt (from the left)
  • The Milz near Saal an der Saale (from the right)
  • The Streu near Heustreu (from the right)
  • The Brend in Bad Neustadt (from the right)
  • The Lauer near Niederlauer (from the left)
  • der Kellersbach between Steinach and Roth an der Saale (from the right)
  • The Aschach near Aschach (from the right)
  • The Thulba near Hammelburg (from the right)
  • The Schondra in Gräfendorf (from the right)
  • The Sinn in Gemünden (from the right)

A comprehensive list including the smaller tributaries is in the List of tributaries of the Franconian Saale (German).

Municipalities on the Franconian Saale

The Franconian Saale flow through or past the following municipalities:

  • Aura an der Saale
  • Bad Bocklet
  • Bad Kissingen
  • Bad Königshofen
  • Bad Neustadt an der Saale
  • Elfershausen
  • Euerdorf
  • Gräfendorf
  • Gemünden am Main
  • Großeibstadt
  • Hammelburg
  • Hollstadt
  • Kleineibstadt
  • Niederlauer
  • Saal an der Saale
  • Trimberg
  • Wülfershausen an der Saale

Castles in the Saale valley

thumb|View over the Trimburg into the Saale valley

There are several picturesque castles in the Saale valley:

  • The Salzburg near Bad Neustadt
  • The ruins of Steineck Castle near Roth an der Saale
  • AschachCastle in Aschach
  • Ruins of Botenlauben Castle near Bad Kissingen
  • Eiringsburg near Bad Kissingen
  • The ruins of Aura Castle above Aura an der Saale
  • The Trimburg above Trimberg
  • The Red Castle in Hammelburg
  • Saaleck Castle above Hammelburg
  • ArnsteinCastle near Morlesau
  • KiliansteinCastle auf dem Sodenberg
  • Thüngensch Castle in Wolfsmünster
  • The Scherenburg in Gemünden

Bridges over the Saale

thumb|Footbridge over the upper Saale near Untereßfeld

thumb|[[Pontoon bridge over the Franconian Saale (Roßmühle)]]

thumb|Saale bridge near Michelau

thumb|Weir and fish ladder by the Roßmühle mill

Important crossings include:

  • B 279 road bridge in Bad Königshofen
  • A 71 motorway bridge at km post 108.3 near Hollstadt
  • B 279 road bridge at km post 108.0 near Hollstadt
  • Schweinfurt – Schmalkalden main line railway bridge at km post 99.8
  • B 19 road bridge at km post 96.5 near Bad Neustadt
  • Bad Kissingen road bridge at km post 60.4
  • Two road bridges at km post 51.5 near Euerdorf
  • Road bridge at km post 48.0 in Aura linking Groß- and Klein-Aura
  • Saale Valley Railway bridge at km post 44.2 near Trimberg
  • Road bridge at km post 41.5 at the edge of Elfershausen
  • A 7 Kassel-Würzburg motorway bridge at km post 41.0
  • B 287 road bridge at km post 32.8 in Hammelburg-Fuchsstadt
  • Hammelburg ring road bridge at km post 29.8
  • Road bridge at km post 26.4 in Hammelburg
  • Road bridge at km post 20.0 in Morlesau
  • Roßmühle pontoon bridge at km post 17.1 near Weikersgrüben
  • Road bridge at km post 15.0 in Michelau
  • Road bridge at km post 9.8 near Schonderfeld
  • Historic road bridge at km post 7.9 in Wolfsmünster
  • Footbridge at km post 4.0 near Schönau Abbey
  • Two road bridges at km post 0.6 in Gemünden
  • Main-Spessart Railway (Würzburg-Frankfurt am Main) bridge at km post 0.1 in Gemünden

Weirs

There are numerous weirs on the Franconian Saale, originally built in order to drive water mills, but today some are used to generate electricity. All weirs are equipped with fish ladders:

  • Weir at km post 58.5 near Bad Kissingen
  • Weir at km post 50.5 Karwinkelsmühle
  • Two weirs at km post 48.0 near Aura
  • Weir at km post 43.8 near Trimberg
  • Saalemühle mill weir at km post 41.9 near Elfershausen
  • Weir at km post 38.5 near Langendorf
  • Weir at km post 37.7 near Westheim
  • Fuchsstätter Mühlen mill weir at km post 36.8
  • Hammelburg Herrenmühle mill weir at km post 29.1
  • Weir at the old power station for Altstadt Abbey (Hammelburg) at km post 28.1
  • Saaleck Castle weir at km post 27.6
  • Rödermühle mill weir km post 24.1
  • Weir at km post 22.5 Neumühle power station
  • at km post 17.0 Weir Roßmühle power station
  • Weir at km post 7.7 Wolfsmünster
  • Schönau Abbey weir at km post 4.0
  • Weir at km post 1.5 Gemünden (ruined)

Boating

In spite of the many weirs the Franconian Saale is popular with canoeists as a slowly flowing river route. The river may be canoed from Bad Neustadt to Gemünden with a few restrictions. Boats may have up to four seats, be no longer than 6.00 metres and no wider than 1.10 metres. Rafting and the coupling of boats is not permitted.

The Saale Valley Railway

The railway line from Bad Kissingen to Gemünden via Hammelburg and Gräfendorf known as the Saale Valley Railway runs along the lower course of the Franconian Saale. Until 1997 the Grabfeld Railway ran along its upper reaches linking Bad Neustadt and Bad Königshofen.

<gallery>

Image:Fraenkische Saalequelle 1.jpg|Fränkische Saalequelle near Alsleben

Image:Fraenkische Saalequelle 2.jpg|Bronze plaque at the Fränkische Saalequelle

Image:Saalquelle.jpg|Saalequelle near Obereßfeld

</gallery>

References