Interestingly, the Lockwitzbach whispers tales of meadows. Its name hints at its character. “Luca” means meadow. Lockwitz means village at the meadow stream.
The Lockwitzbach is a stream in the Saxon Ore Mountains. It flows into the Elbe near Dresden. The Lockwitzbach’s source lies above Oberfrauendorf. This is in the lower Ore Mountains. The source is 560 meters above sea level.
The Lockwitzbach’s journey spans almost 24 kilometers. It descends 443 meters. Its mouth is 117 meters above sea level. The Lockwitzbach carves its path through the landscape.
The Lockwitzbach flows through the Lockwitz Valley. The Lockwitz Valley Bridge spans this valley. It was built between 2002 and 2005. The bridge is 64 meters high. It stretches over 700 meters across the Lockwitz Valley.
Locals sometimes call its upper reaches “Grimmsches Wasser.” This name comes from Reinhardtsgrimma. It keeps this name until the Hirschbach joins it. This is southeast of the Wilisch.
The Lockwitzbach twice cuts through lower mountain ranges. First, the Wilischgrund. This is a valley through the Karsdorf disturbance above Lungkwitz. Second, the Lockwitzgrund. This is a narrow valley at the Elbe Valley. It leaves the Kreischa basin here. The Lockwitzbach touches rocks of the Elbe Valley. Near Lockwitz, it meets the granodiorite of Dohna. This rock is about 535 million years old.
Between these areas lies the Kreischa basin. This is part of the Döhlen Basin. It contains rocks from the Rotliegend.
In Dresden, an old Elbe arm merges with the Lockwitzbach. This is south of Großzschachwitz. The Lockwitzbach then follows this arm. It does so until the Laubegast border. Here, it sharply bends. It cuts through a deposit. This is at the border of Elbe gravel and Ice Age sands. After a short distance, it flows into the Elbe. This is between Laubegast and Kleinzschachwitz.
During floods, the Lockwitzbach feeds the Niedersedlitz flood trench. This trench flows into the Elbe near Tolkewitz. It merges with the Geberbach.
Long ago, the Lockwitzbach flowed differently. It joined other rivers. These rivers included the Müglitz and the Red Weisseritz. Together, they formed the United Ore Mountains River. Its mouth was near Althirschstein on the Elbe.
Old gravel terraces near Kleinluga show a shift. The Lockwitzbach was pushed eastward. During the Ice Age, it created a fan of gravel. This fan spread into the Elbe Valley. The sands near its mouth are meltwater deposits. These deposits formed during the Saale Ice Age.
Many mills once lined the Lockwitzbach. Some no longer exist. Others have been rebuilt. They serve different purposes now. The Hirschbach Mill changed over time. August the Strong once owned it. Later, it became a guest house. Robert and Clara Schumann stayed there. Peter Schreier was also a guest.
The Lockwitzbach faces flood risks. A retention basin exists above Reinhardtsgrimma. It helps during high water. Another basin is planned between Kreischa and Dresden. This would offer more protection.
The Lockwitzbach is more than just a stream. It is a thread connecting history, geology, and human stories. It shapes the landscape. It nourishes the land. It enriches the cultural tapestry of Dresden.