Pfrimm
Encyclopedia
The Pfrimm is a 42.7 km long, left or western tributary
of the Rhine in the Rhineland-Palatinate
(Germany
).
. Its spring
lies in the northern part of the Palatinate Forest Nature Park
, about 3 km southeast of the municipality Sippersfeld
in the protected area
, which contains several ponds in the area. The spring is in a valley surrounded by the hills Sperberhöhe in the east, Salweidenkopf in the south and Schnepfberg in the southwest. In 1927, the spring was encased in basalt stones. About 10 meters north of the spring, the Pfrimm river flows through a pond named and subsequenly through a pong named . It does not flow thought the nearby pond , which lies nearby to the west.
The Pfrimm flows primarily through agricultural areas, and mostly about parallel to the federal road B47. The upper part of the river drains the northern parts of the North Palatine Uplands. Below the Sippersfelder Weiher, it flows to the north, past Pfrimmerhof, which belongs to the municipality of Sippersfeld, then west past the hill and through the village of Breunigweiler
, where the Mohbach joins from the southeast.
After entering the Alzey hills, the Pfrimm takes up the Bornbach and then flows northeastward past Standenbühl
, while the Donnersberg
mountains are a few kilometers further northeast. Between Standenbühl and Dreisen, the Münsterhof, the former Premonstratensian
abbey Münsterdreisen, is situated on the Pfrimm's southern shore. An old bulging sandstone bridge from 1770 spans the river at this point. Below Dreisen
, the joins from the west. In Marnheim
, the joins, also from the west; at this point the Pfrimm Valley Viaduct used to span the river, until is was demolished in 1945. From here, the Pfrimm flows past Albisheim
, then the Leiselsbach joins from the northwest. It then flows east to Harxheim
, where the Ammelbach joins from the south.
The Pfrimm continues flowing east, into the Landkreis Alzey-Worms
and thereby into Rhenish Hesse. It flows via Wachenheim to Monsheim
, where it crosses under federal road B121. The section between Marnheim and Monsheim is known as the Zellertal
valley. Within the municipality Monsheim, the Pfrimm largely forms the boundary between the wards Monsheim and Kriegheim.
The Pfrimm then reaches the urban district of Worms
. It flows through the western ward of Pfeddersheim
, where in 1525 the Battle of Pfeddersheim took place. To the west of the village, we find the reacrational area and the first of two so-called ox pianos (river crossings, see below). The Pfrimm then crosses under the 30m high and 1471.4m long Pfeddersheim Viaduct of the Autobahn A61.
The Pfrimm then flows through the city of Worms itself. The is the most straightened and canalized section of the river. It follows the (also known as the ), which was constructed in the Middle Ages
and raised in 1841 as part of a Pfrimm improvement project. A footpath runs on top of the Damm alognside the river since 1890. The Pfrimm flows through the 300m long pond and into the Karl-Bittel-Park (also known as Pfrimmpark), where the other "ox piano" can be found.
The Pfrimm then flows through the city center of Worms and turns north-northeast. It crosses under the federal highway B9 and the Worms Port Railway. About 3km north of the city center, it flows into the Upper Rhine
at Rhine kilometer 446.7. The Rhine also forms the Worms city limit and the boundary between the states of Rhineland-Palatinate
and Hesse
.
ing, for example in 1882, 1892, 1902, 1940, 1950, 1978, 1995 and 2003. A particularly high fleed occurred on 27 November 1882, when all the mills along the river were flooded and the fields along the river were transformed into a series of lakes. The water flowed into street in the district of Neuhausen, north of the main railway station
. The water flowed into the Rhine near the Church.
was constructed across thr Pfrimm in the 1890s slightly above the modern Karl-Bittle-Park. Directly below the weir a series of stepping stones was deployed below the weir in 1898. It is a combination of stone stairs leading down to Pfrimm steps and stepping stones lying in the river allowing pedestrians to cross. In the local vernacular it was called an "ox piano": "ox", because Karl Bittel, who constructed it, claimed even an ox would be capable of crossing, and "piano" because the stones were raised above the water like the black keys on a piano.
Later a regular footbridge
was built above the weir, so that the ox piano lost its importance. Nevertheless, the stones are still there and when the water level isn't too hight, it can still be crossed.
Also, a fish ladder
was added, allowing fish to overcome the weir.
or a kayak
.
Many state roads
run through the Pfrimm valley and cross the river. The federal road B47 run parallel to the river. At Monsheim, the river passes under B271. The Autobahn A63 accompanies the upper reaches of the Pfrimm from Standenbühl to Marnheim. East of Pfeddersheim, the A61 crosses the river. Near the mouth, the Pfrimm is crossed by the federal highway B9.
The Zeller Valley Rail, a regional branch line, serves the Pfrimm valley.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Rhine in the Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
).
Course
The Pfrimm rises in the southern part of the DonnersbergkreisDonnersbergkreis
The Donnersbergkreis is a district in the middle of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Neighboring districts are Bad Kreuznach, Alzey-Worms, Bad Dürkheim, Kaiserslautern, Kusel.-History:...
. Its spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
lies in the northern part of the Palatinate Forest Nature Park
Palatinate Forest Nature Park
The Palatinate Forest Nature Park lies in the south of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany and borders on France. The nature park covers an area of and some 76 % of its area is under the woods of the Palatinate Forest, the largest contiguous forest region in Germany...
, about 3 km southeast of the municipality Sippersfeld
Sippersfeld
Sippersfeld is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....
in the protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
, which contains several ponds in the area. The spring is in a valley surrounded by the hills Sperberhöhe in the east, Salweidenkopf in the south and Schnepfberg in the southwest. In 1927, the spring was encased in basalt stones. About 10 meters north of the spring, the Pfrimm river flows through a pond named and subsequenly through a pong named . It does not flow thought the nearby pond , which lies nearby to the west.
The Pfrimm flows primarily through agricultural areas, and mostly about parallel to the federal road B47. The upper part of the river drains the northern parts of the North Palatine Uplands. Below the Sippersfelder Weiher, it flows to the north, past Pfrimmerhof, which belongs to the municipality of Sippersfeld, then west past the hill and through the village of Breunigweiler
Breunigweiler
Breunigweiler is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....
, where the Mohbach joins from the southeast.
After entering the Alzey hills, the Pfrimm takes up the Bornbach and then flows northeastward past Standenbühl
Standenbühl
Standenbühl is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....
, while the Donnersberg
Donnersberg
For the Czech mountain, see MilešovkaThe Donnersberg is the highest peak of the Palatinate region of Germany. The mountain lies between the towns of Rockenhausen en Kirchheimbolanden, in the Donnersbergkreis district, which is named after the mountain. The highway A63 runs along the southern edge...
mountains are a few kilometers further northeast. Between Standenbühl and Dreisen, the Münsterhof, the former Premonstratensian
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
abbey Münsterdreisen, is situated on the Pfrimm's southern shore. An old bulging sandstone bridge from 1770 spans the river at this point. Below Dreisen
Dreisen
Dreisen is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....
, the joins from the west. In Marnheim
Marnheim
Marnheim is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....
, the joins, also from the west; at this point the Pfrimm Valley Viaduct used to span the river, until is was demolished in 1945. From here, the Pfrimm flows past Albisheim
Albisheim
Albisheim is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is in the middle of the Zellertal.- History :In the year 835 the village is first mentioned in a document. It has been a market town for many years...
, then the Leiselsbach joins from the northwest. It then flows east to Harxheim
Harxheim
Harxheim is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
, where the Ammelbach joins from the south.
The Pfrimm continues flowing east, into the Landkreis Alzey-Worms
Alzey-Worms
Alzey-Worms is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by the district Groß-Gerau , the city of Worms and the districts of Bad Dürkheim, Donnersbergkreis, Bad Kreuznach and Mainz-Bingen.- History :...
and thereby into Rhenish Hesse. It flows via Wachenheim to Monsheim
Monsheim
Monsheim is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
, where it crosses under federal road B121. The section between Marnheim and Monsheim is known as the Zellertal
Zellertal
Zellertal is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.The villages of Zell, Harxheim and Niefernheim form Zellertal.Zellertal is in the Palatinate wine region, bordering the Rhenish Hesse wine region.-Economy:...
valley. Within the municipality Monsheim, the Pfrimm largely forms the boundary between the wards Monsheim and Kriegheim.
The Pfrimm then reaches the urban district of Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
. It flows through the western ward of Pfeddersheim
Worms-Pfeddersheim
The former free imperial city Pfeddersheim is a borough of Worms since 1969. It became a borough after 2,000 years of independent history.Pfeddersheim is located in the Pfrimm valley in Rhenish Hesse and surrounded by Riesling vineyards...
, where in 1525 the Battle of Pfeddersheim took place. To the west of the village, we find the reacrational area and the first of two so-called ox pianos (river crossings, see below). The Pfrimm then crosses under the 30m high and 1471.4m long Pfeddersheim Viaduct of the Autobahn A61.
The Pfrimm then flows through the city of Worms itself. The is the most straightened and canalized section of the river. It follows the (also known as the ), which was constructed in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and raised in 1841 as part of a Pfrimm improvement project. A footpath runs on top of the Damm alognside the river since 1890. The Pfrimm flows through the 300m long pond and into the Karl-Bittel-Park (also known as Pfrimmpark), where the other "ox piano" can be found.
The Pfrimm then flows through the city center of Worms and turns north-northeast. It crosses under the federal highway B9 and the Worms Port Railway. About 3km north of the city center, it flows into the Upper Rhine
Upper Rhine
The Upper Rhine is the section of the Rhine in the Upper Rhine Plain between Basel, Switzerland and Bingen, Germany. The river is marked by Rhine-kilometers 170 to 529 ....
at Rhine kilometer 446.7. The Rhine also forms the Worms city limit and the boundary between the states of Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
and Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
.
Discharge
In some years, the Pfrimm causes major floodFlood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
ing, for example in 1882, 1892, 1902, 1940, 1950, 1978, 1995 and 2003. A particularly high fleed occurred on 27 November 1882, when all the mills along the river were flooded and the fields along the river were transformed into a series of lakes. The water flowed into street in the district of Neuhausen, north of the main railway station
Worms Hauptbahnhof
is, along with Worms Brücke station and Worms Pfeddersheim station, one of three operational passenger stations in the Rhenish Hesse city of Worms, Germany. The station with is its pedestrian underpass is also an essential link between the eastern and the western parts of central Worms...
. The water flowed into the Rhine near the Church.
Ox pianos
Between Pfiffligheim and Hochheim
In the late 19th century, Pfiffligheim and Hochheim were independent municipalities; they are now buroughs of Worms. A weirWeir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
was constructed across thr Pfrimm in the 1890s slightly above the modern Karl-Bittle-Park. Directly below the weir a series of stepping stones was deployed below the weir in 1898. It is a combination of stone stairs leading down to Pfrimm steps and stepping stones lying in the river allowing pedestrians to cross. In the local vernacular it was called an "ox piano": "ox", because Karl Bittel, who constructed it, claimed even an ox would be capable of crossing, and "piano" because the stones were raised above the water like the black keys on a piano.
Later a regular footbridge
Footbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
was built above the weir, so that the ox piano lost its importance. Nevertheless, the stones are still there and when the water level isn't too hight, it can still be crossed.
Also, a fish ladder
Fish ladder
A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass or fish steps, is a structure on or around artificial barriers to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration. Most fishways enable fish to pass around the barriers by swimming and leaping up a series of relatively low steps into the waters on...
was added, allowing fish to overcome the weir.
In Pfeddersheim
A much older ox piano could be found in the western part of in Pfeddersheimer, approximately in the middle of the . Here, a concrete dam and a weir were used to hold back the water and divert it into the (now abandoned) Mühlbach ("Mill Brook"). Water not needed by the mill was drained using an adjustable weir or, at higher water levels, across the entire width of the concrete barrier. Here, too, and "ox piano" was constructed, allowing pedestrians to cross the Pfrimm with dry feet, if the water level permitted. The Mill Brook was about a meter deep, near the weir even over two meters, and was used by local residents for swimming and diving, as was the waterfall created by the weir.Traffic
The Pfrimm is classified as a water body of the second category and can only be navigated in a canoeCanoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
or a kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
.
Many state roads
Landesstraße
Landesstraßen are roads in Germany and Austria that are, as a rule, the responsibility of the respective German or Austrian federal state. The term may therefore be translated as "state road". They are roads that cross the boundary of a rural or urban district...
run through the Pfrimm valley and cross the river. The federal road B47 run parallel to the river. At Monsheim, the river passes under B271. The Autobahn A63 accompanies the upper reaches of the Pfrimm from Standenbühl to Marnheim. East of Pfeddersheim, the A61 crosses the river. Near the mouth, the Pfrimm is crossed by the federal highway B9.
The Zeller Valley Rail, a regional branch line, serves the Pfrimm valley.