Neckar Facts for Kids

Old Bridge, Heidelberg

The Neckar is a long and important river in the southwest of Germany. It flows for about 367 kilometers (228 miles) through the state of Baden-Württemberg. The Neckar starts in the beautiful Black Forest mountains. From there, it travels through a deep valley in the Odenwald hills. Along its journey, the river passes through many interesting cities. These include Tübingen and Heidelberg, which are famous for their universities. It also flows through Stuttgart, which is the capital city of Baden-Württemberg. Finally, in the city of Mannheim, the Neckar river joins the mighty Rhine river.

Where the Neckar Begins
Cities Along the River
How the River is Used
Images for kids
See also

Where the Neckar Begins

The Neckar river begins its journey in a special place called the Black Forest. This area is known for its dark, dense forests and rolling hills. The exact spot where the Neckar starts is in a bog, which is a type of wetland, near a town called Villingen-Schwenningen. From this small beginning, the river grows bigger as it collects water from many smaller streams and rivers along its path.

Cities Along the River

The Neckar river flows through many important and historic cities. Each city has its own unique connection to the river.

Tübingen: A University Town

Tübingen is one of the first major cities the Neckar reaches. It's a charming old town famous for its university, which is one of the oldest in Germany. The river flows right through the city, with pretty old buildings lining its banks. You can often see people punting or rowing on the Neckar here.

Stuttgart: The State Capital

Further downstream, the Neckar flows through Stuttgart. This is a very important city because it's the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart is a big industrial center, known for its car manufacturing. The river helps transport goods and is an important part of the city's history and economy.

Heidelberg: Home of a Famous Castle

One of the most famous cities on the Neckar is Heidelberg. It's known worldwide for its beautiful old bridge and its impressive castle ruins high above the river. Heidelberg also has a very old and respected university. The Neckar adds to the city's scenic beauty, making it a popular place for tourists.

Joining the Rhine

After flowing through many towns and cities, the Neckar reaches Mannheim. Here, it finally joins the Rhine river. The Rhine is one of Europe's longest and busiest rivers. This meeting point is important for shipping and trade, as boats can travel from the Neckar onto the larger Rhine and beyond.

How the River is Used

The Neckar river is used for many different things. It's not just a beautiful natural feature; it's also very useful for people.

Shipping and Transport

For many years, the Neckar has been an important waterway for transporting goods. Boats and barges use the river to move things like coal, sand, and other materials. To make sure boats can travel easily, especially where the river changes height, many locks and weirs have been built. These structures help boats go up or down the river smoothly.

Power Plants

The river's water is also used to create electricity. There are several power plants along the Neckar that use the force of the flowing water to generate power. Some of these plants have been around for a long time, showing how important the river has been for energy.

Recreation and Nature

Besides its practical uses, the Neckar is also a great place for fun and enjoying nature. People love to go boating, kayaking, or simply walk along the riverbanks. Many parts of the Neckar valley are very scenic, with vineyards, castles, and natural areas that are home to different plants and animals. Some parts of the river are protected to keep them natural and safe for wildlife.

Images for kids

The Neckar in southwest Germany flows from south to north, and joins the Rhine at Mannheim.
Schwenninger Bog, the source of the Neckar
The Neckar in Tübingen, between the Neckarinsel at the left and the Neckarfront of the old town at the righ
The Neckar near Neckarsulm
Neckar catchment area
Mouth of the Eschach in Rottweil
Mouth of the Starzel in Bieringen
Mouth of the Steinlach in Tübingen
Mouth of the Aich at Nürtingen-Oberensingen
Mouth of the Körsch on the right near Deizisau
The last of the large tributaries and the overall longest is the Jagst near Bad Friedrichshall Jagstfeld
Lock on Wieblingen channel from Heidelberg and open river at Schwabenheim
Neckar mouth today
View from the Hessigheimer rock gardens into the Neckar valley
Stone terraces at the Cannstatter Zuckerle, located on the Neckar slopes in Stuttgart
The Neckar in Neckarsulm, in the background the coal power station of Heilbronn.
The Neckar loop around the Dilsberg castle, as seen from the Hinterburg
Heidelberg, the Neuenheim riverside with the neckar meadow and the Heiligenberg
The not regulated old Neckar at Freiberg am Neckar
Stift Neuburg und das Neckartal, Ernst Fries, um 1830
Mouth of the Heilbronner Wilhelmskanal (right) into the side arm Heilbronn (old neckar) (left). The canal made the Neckar continuously navigable in 1821. The lock with the bridge is from 1884.
Chain Boat on the Neckar at Heilbronn
Neckar-Staustufe Hirschhorn with weir and double barrage
Navigation on the Neckar near Bad Wimpfen in 1988 with the passenger ship Neckarbummler of the Personenschifffahrt Stumpf
Neckarverlauf bei Stuttgart-Untertürkheim durch stark industriell geprägtes Gebiet
Stuttgarter Neckarhafen
Kanalhafen Heilbronn mit Schiffsverkehr durch die Gütermotorschiffe Wolfgang Krieger and Heiner Krieger der Reederei Gebr. Krieger
Die Doppelschleuse Cannstatt
Die Staustufe Hofen
Die Staustufe Aldingen
Die Staustufe Poppenweiler
Die Schleuse Feudenheim
Old Neckar mill below Horneck Castle in Gundelsheim
Kombiniertes Wasser –a coal-fired power station in Kiebingen 1910
Tübingen
Das Kraftwerk Oberesslingen
Das Kraftwerk von Lauffen am Neckar 1891
Wehrsteg über den Neckar am Wehr Wieblingen in Heidelberg (Baujahr 1925)