Flowing through Leipzig’s northern districts, the Nördliche Rietzschke whispers tales of transformation. This seemingly modest brook holds a surprising history. It reflects the city’s evolving relationship with its natural landscape.
The Nördliche Rietzschke’s name stems from the Sorbian word rěčka meaning “brook”. It marks its origins as a waterway with Slavic roots. Today, the Nördliche Rietzschke is classified as a second-order body of water.
Two source streams feed the Nördliche Rietzschke. The Seehausener Mühlgraben originates from Seehausen. Lindenthaler Wasser begins west of Lindenthal. These waters meet near Rietzschkegrund road in Wiederitzsch. The Seehausen side is largely fed by rainwater. Groundwater also contributes from the area of the new Leipzig Trade Fair.
From Wiederitzsch, the Nördliche Rietzschke flows southeast. It meets the Eutritzscher Flurgrenzgraben north of St. Georg Hospital. Here it turns southwest. In 1991, the section from the Wiederitzsch railway viaduct to St. Georg Hospital became a protected biotope. The Gohliser Flurgrenzgraben joins the Rietzschke on the hospital’s west side.
The Rietzschke then runs south toward the Arthur-Bretschneider-Park in Eutritzsch. The park was created in the Rietzschke meadow in the early 20th century. At Gottschallstrasse, the Nördliche Rietzschke flows into the city’s sewer system.
Until around 1885, the Nördliche Rietzschke flowed openly into the Pleiße River. This confluence occurred along Kanalstraße and today’s Prellerstraße. To relieve the sewer system during high water flow, a storm overflow leads into the Parthe. This is located at Wilhelmsteg. Wilhelmsteg is a cycle and pedestrian path over the Parthe near the south end of Prellerstraße.
Until around the year 1000, the Nördliche Rietzschke flowed to its mouth into the White Elster. This path is now used by the Parthe. Around 1200, the Gohliser Mühlgraben was created. It diverted water from the Parthe near the present-day zoo to the Rietzschke in Gohlis. The aim was to supply the local mill with enough water. The Rietzschke’s water volume was insufficient. From that time, the Mühlgraben was called Pleiße on most maps. This was because its water came mainly from the Pleiße Mühlgraben. Until its integration into the sewer system, the Rietzschke flowed into the Gohliser Mühlgraben. This was known as the Pleiße.
From the confluence of its source streams to its entry into the sewer system, the Nördliche Rietzschke measures 3.7 kilometers.
The area around the Nördliche Rietzschke is part of Leipzig’s landscape conservation areas. Since 2007, the Rietzschke hiking trail runs from Arthur-Bretschneider-Park along or near the Rietzschke to Wiederitzsch.
Interestingly, there’s a similarly sized brook in eastern Leipzig. It is called the Östliche Rietzschke. It too was once a tributary of the Parthe.
Today the Nördliche Rietzschke stands as a reminder of Leipzig’s dynamic waterways. Once a vital part of the city’s landscape, it now flows beneath the surface. Yet its story continues to shape the city’s identity.