Waldnaab
Encyclopedia
The Waldnaab is the left-hand, eastern and longest headstream of the River Naab in the Upper Palatinate
(Bavaria
, Germany
).
Together with the Waldnaab the Naab is 173 kilometres (107.5 mi) long.
rises at on the German-Czech
border in the Upper Palatine Forest not far from the high Entenbühl
and near its smaller brother, the Naabberg . Its source, also called the Kreuzbrunnen, lies in the district of Tirschenreuth, near Silberhütte. From its wellspring the water flows for just under three metres on German soil, before crossing into Bohemia
for almost a kilometre, where it is known as the Lesní Nába, and then flowing northwest, re-crossing the German border and reaching Bärnau
.
As a result of seasonal fluctuations in the water table and the increasing degradation of the wellspring, its water reaches the surface initially a few metres away from the actual spring, then further and further away as the year wears on and eventually appears on the Czech side of the border.
During the Cold War the spring was a very popular destination for walkers, even though it was next to the heavily guarded border. When collecting blueberries between the border posts, pickers were often closely watched by uniformed guards from both sides.
The first village that the Waldnaab passes through after leaving the forest is the eponymous Naab.
In Bärnau the Waldnaab bends towards the west and flows through the Liebenstein flood retention basin, about 88 hectares (217.5 acre) in area, a little way below Bärnau-Thanhausen and north of Plößberg
. Next it swings northwards and reaches the village of Tirschenreuth
, where it turns west again and flows through the Waldnaabaue (Waldnaab water meadows), meandering its way through the many lakes in the area.
Passing Falkenberg Castle in Falkenberg it flows southwest and reaches the rocky Waldnaabtal (Waldnaab valley), where the stream is at its most picturesque over the next 12 kilometres. Here, water erosion has carved a valley in the granitic bedrock surrounded by woods.
Beyond that it is joined at Neuhaus/Windischeschenbach
by the Fichtelnaab
approaching from the northwest.
and the B 15 federal road, flowing through Neustadt
, Altenstadt
and Weiden, where it picks up the Schweinnaab
coming from the west, before reaching Luhe-Wildenau
. There it is joined in the village of Unterwildenau by the Haidenaab
to form the Naab
, which flows into the River Danube near Regensburg-Mariaort.
Upper Palatinate
The Upper Palatinate is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria.- History :The region took its name first in the early 16th century, because it was by the Treaty of Pavia one of the main portions of the territory of the Wittelsbach Elector...
(Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, 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...
).
Together with the Waldnaab the Naab is 173 kilometres (107.5 mi) long.
The Tirschenreuth Waldnaab
The riverRiver
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
rises at on the German-Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
border in the Upper Palatine Forest not far from the high Entenbühl
Entenbühl
Entenbühl is a mountain of Bavaria, Germany....
and near its smaller brother, the Naabberg . Its source, also called the Kreuzbrunnen, lies in the district of Tirschenreuth, near Silberhütte. From its wellspring the water flows for just under three metres on German soil, before crossing into Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
for almost a kilometre, where it is known as the Lesní Nába, and then flowing northwest, re-crossing the German border and reaching Bärnau
Bärnau
Bärnau is the oldest town in the district of Tirschenreuth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated near the border with the Czech Republic, 25 km northeast of Weiden in der Oberpfalz, and 26 km southwest of Mariánské Lázně.- Buildings :...
.
As a result of seasonal fluctuations in the water table and the increasing degradation of the wellspring, its water reaches the surface initially a few metres away from the actual spring, then further and further away as the year wears on and eventually appears on the Czech side of the border.
During the Cold War the spring was a very popular destination for walkers, even though it was next to the heavily guarded border. When collecting blueberries between the border posts, pickers were often closely watched by uniformed guards from both sides.
The first village that the Waldnaab passes through after leaving the forest is the eponymous Naab.
In Bärnau the Waldnaab bends towards the west and flows through the Liebenstein flood retention basin, about 88 hectares (217.5 acre) in area, a little way below Bärnau-Thanhausen and north of Plößberg
Plößberg
Plößberg is a municipality in the district of Tirschenreuth in Bavaria, Germany....
. Next it swings northwards and reaches the village of Tirschenreuth
Tirschenreuth
Tirschenreuth is the capital city of the district of Tirschenreuth. It is located in the northeast of Bavaria, very close to the Czech-Bavarian border.-Geography:...
, where it turns west again and flows through the Waldnaabaue (Waldnaab water meadows), meandering its way through the many lakes in the area.
Passing Falkenberg Castle in Falkenberg it flows southwest and reaches the rocky Waldnaabtal (Waldnaab valley), where the stream is at its most picturesque over the next 12 kilometres. Here, water erosion has carved a valley in the granitic bedrock surrounded by woods.
Beyond that it is joined at Neuhaus/Windischeschenbach
Windischeschenbach
Windischeschenbach is a town in the district of Neustadt , in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 14 km north of Weiden in der Oberpfalz....
by the Fichtelnaab
Fichtelnaab
The Fichtelnaab is a right-hand, western headstream of the Naab in Upper Franconia and the Upper Palatinate. It rises in the Fichtelgebirge and flows into the Waldnaab near Windischeschenbach.- Course :...
approaching from the northwest.
The Waldnaab below Windischeschenbach
From there the Waldnaab heads south, accompanied most of the way by the A 93 motorwayBundesautobahn 93
The Bundesautobahn 93 is an autobahn in Bavaria with a length of 276 km. It consists of two parts one is a short track, from the A 8, near the Austrian border, to the Inntal Autobahn in Tyrol, Austria, the other from Hof A 72 in the north of Bavaria to Holledau A 9. A...
and the B 15 federal road, flowing through Neustadt
Neustadt an der Waldnaab
Neustadt an der Waldnaab is a municipality in Bavaria, capital of the district Neustadt ....
, Altenstadt
Altenstadt an der Waldnaab
Altenstadt an der Waldnaab is a municipality in the district of Neustadt in Bavaria in Germany. It is located near Weiden in der Oberpfalz. It has a nearby interchange with the A93 linking Regensburg and Hof. A part of the municipality on May 1, 1974 joined Weiden in der Oberpfalz....
and Weiden, where it picks up the Schweinnaab
Schweinnaab
Schweinnaab is a river of Bavaria, Germany.-See also:*List of rivers of Bavaria...
coming from the west, before reaching Luhe-Wildenau
Luhe-Wildenau
Luhe-Wildenau is a municipality in the district of Neustadt in Bavaria in Germany....
. There it is joined in the village of Unterwildenau by the Haidenaab
Haidenaab
The Haidenaab is the right and western headstream of the River Naab in the Upper Palatinate in the south German state of Bavaria.- Course :...
to form the Naab
Naab
The Naab is a river in Bavaria, Germany, and is a left tributary of the Danube. It is approx. long, including its main source river Waldnaab....
, which flows into the River Danube near Regensburg-Mariaort.
Waldnaab Valley
The rich natural environment of the Waldnaab Valley is very popular, particularly with walkers. The erosion of granite has produced a great number of rock formations, such as the Kammerwagen, the Tischstein or the Butterfass in this nature reserve. There are also the sites of three old castles on the rocks of Altneuhaus, Herrenstein and Schwarzenschwal.Largest tributaries
| Left tributaries | Right tributaries |
| The Tirschenreuth Waldnaab (ca. 43 km) | |
|
Bärnau Bärnau is the oldest town in the district of Tirschenreuth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated near the border with the Czech Republic, 25 km northeast of Weiden in der Oberpfalz, and 26 km southwest of Mariánské Lázně.- Buildings :... ) Tirschenreuth Tirschenreuth is the capital city of the district of Tirschenreuth. It is located in the northeast of Bavaria, very close to the Czech-Bavarian border.-Geography:... ) Fichtelnaab The Fichtelnaab is a right-hand, western headstream of the Naab in Upper Franconia and the Upper Palatinate. It rises in the Fichtelgebirge and flows into the Waldnaab near Windischeschenbach.- Course :... (Windischeschenbach Windischeschenbach Windischeschenbach is a town in the district of Neustadt , in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 14 km north of Weiden in der Oberpfalz.... ) |
| The Waldnaab below Windischeschenbach (ca. 25 km) | |
|
Floß (river) Floß is a river of Bavaria, Germany.... (Neustadt Neustadt an der Waldnaab Neustadt an der Waldnaab is a municipality in Bavaria, capital of the district Neustadt .... ) |
Schweinnaab Schweinnaab is a river of Bavaria, Germany.-See also:*List of rivers of Bavaria... (Weiden Weiden in der Oberpfalz Weiden in der Oberpfalz is a district-free city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located 100 km east of Nuremberg and 35 km west of the Czech border. A branch of the German Army's NCO Academy is located here... ) |
| In brackets the location of its confluence with the Waldnaab. | |
Sources
- Die Naab – mit Waldnaab, Fichtelnaab, Haidenaab. 144 Seiten, Pustet, Regensburg.(ISBN 3-7917-1915-7)