A whisper of water. That’s how the Sendelbach begins its journey. Two tiny streams. One springing from a height of 262 meters near Gadheim. The other emerging from the Gadheim forest. They meet at the Kalten Brunnen. A cold spring at the foot of the Kalten Berg.
Welcome to the Sendelbach. This unassuming stream plays a vital role in the landscape around Würzburg. It’s a right tributary of the Main River. Its journey is short just around four kilometers. But its impact is far-reaching.
Imagine the Sendelbach meandering through fields and then a small patch of deciduous forest. It carves a path creating a small valley. This valley follows the Sendelbachstraße road. The stream continues until it reaches the edge of Veitshöchheim. Here the valley is settled. The Sendelbach flows mostly underground through the town. It’s channeled and often unseen. Except for a few glimpses where it’s still visible. It eventually flows into the Main River. It does so about fifty meters above the Ludwig-Volk-Steg bridge. The river ends its journey at an altitude of 168.5 meters.
During the construction of the Ludwigs-West-Bahn railway line a vaulted bridge was built over the Sendelbach. This was designed to allow the water to pass under the tracks. The bridge had a clear width of 3.60 meters. Today however this water passage is enclosed in pipes.
The Sendelbach is classified as a third-order waterway. This means it requires permits for any work or alterations. The average flow rate is a mere 0.4 liters per second. A tiny trickle that belies its importance to the local ecosystem. A silent witness to centuries of history. The Sendelbach a small stream with a big story to tell. A story you’ve just heard a part of here today.