Did you know that the Winzerbach in Bonn owes its name to former vineyards? Yes, winegrowing shaped the area near the Winzerstra\u00dfe long ago. Now, let’s explore the story of this small stream.
The Winzerbach is a stream in Bonn that flows through the Dottendorf district. It is almost one kilometer long. To be exact, it measures 0.99 kilometers. Its drainage basin is less than one square kilometer.
The Winzerbach originates east of the Pathological Institute of the University Hospital Bonn. It’s on the eastern slope of the southern Ville, above the Winzerstra\u00dfe. This source is a typical spring in a hillside hollow. Aquifers below the main terrace feed it.
From its source, the Winzerbach flows northeast. After about 100 meters, it feeds some narrow fish ponds. These ponds run parallel to the slope. The Winzerbach then crosses a meadow on private property. At the edge of this property, it disappears into a canal.
This canal is 715 meters long. It follows the Winzerstra\u00dfe and the Eulenweg. The Winzerbach reemerges at a turning point at the end of the street. From here, it flows for 120 meters. This stretch runs alongside the Eulenweg. It is a near-natural stream with a gentle slope.
About 70 meters after crossing the Eulenweg, the Winzerbach meets the Annaberger Bach. This happens at the Schulwaldbiotop in the Wiesengrund. The Winzerbach flows into the Annaberger Bach below a footbridge. This bridge is at the end of the street Im Wiesengrund. The Annaberger Bach only carries water seasonally.
Most of the Winzerbach flows through pipes within the settlement area. The water quality in the open sections is rated I-II. This means it is good to moderately polluted.
The Winzerbach’s name comes from the former winegrowing in the Winzerstra\u00dfe area. This area is in its upper reaches. In the Winzerbach’s source area, you can sometimes find pure quartz, also known as rock crystal.
The stream section above the fish ponds in the Winzerstra\u00dfe is not easily accessible. There are no paths and it’s hard to reach. This makes the stream’s ecology relatively undisturbed.
A small portion of the Winzerbach’s water irrigates a nursery in the Winzerstra\u00dfe. To redirect the Winzerbach into the Annaberger Bach, its lower course had to be altered. In the Wiesengrund, the stream now flows against its natural gradient.
The Winzerbach may be small. However, it shows how humans and nature interact. From vineyards to altered flows, its story reflects Bonn’s changing landscape. The Winzerbach connects history, ecology and human use. It reminds us of the many layers in our environment. So, next time you pass a small stream, remember the Winzerbach and its hidden stories.