Wertach-Kraftwerk

The Wertach-Kraftwerk stands in Augsburg’s Rosenau and Thelottviertel districts beside the Wertachkanal. This hydropower plant is also known as the Wasserkraftwerk am Wertachkanal.

Built between 1920 and 1921, the plant supplied electricity for Augsburg’s tram network and remains an industrial monument. Its L-shaped building has a hipped roof. The longer wing crosses the canal, while a sawtooth frieze follows the eaves and a griffin relief marks the arched entrance. The relief carries a pine cone and the inscription A.D. 1921.

Inside, original machinery from the early twentieth century fills the machine hall, including large round generators and Francis turbines. Updated turbine technology still uses the canal’s water. The privately owned plant produces alternating current, while its direct-current machines stand idle.

The site belongs to the Augsburg Water Management System. That network includes canals, water towers, fountains, and hydropower plants recognized as UNESCO World Heritage. Mosaics cover part of the plant’s exterior wall. Walking and cycling routes pass this place along the Wertach. The building shows how Augsburg connected river engineering, urban development, and electrical power across more than a century.