Wasserkraftwerk Fabrikkanal

Wasserkraftwerk Fabrikkanal stands in Augsburg, Bavaria, beside the man-made canal carrying Wertach water northwards. Its single-storey plastered building has a gabled roof, arched windows, and decorated cast-iron bars. Two arched openings at the base mark the water inlets and outlets, while another opening faces west.

The Zwirnerei und Nähfadenfabrik Göggingen put the plant into operation in 1885 to power its weaving machines. The canal stretches about 1,880 metres and carries up to 28.5 cubic metres per second. Transmission belts and pulleys first delivered mechanical force, linking the northward flow directly with factory production. Two Francis turbines replaced the originals in 1907. In 2022, two Kaplan turbines and two generators took their place, sending electricity into the public grid.

The operating plant forms part of Augsburg’s UNESCO World Heritage ensemble for historic water management. That ensemble includes canals, water towers, and fountains. Its protected cultural monument status places it within Augsburg’s industrial landscape. From outside, etched ornamental glass and arched ironwork reveal a working site shaped by changing technology. The property remains privately owned and closed to the public.