Eifel Aqueduct

The Eifel Aqueduct is a Roman water channel in North Rhine-Westphalia that ran about 95 kilometers from Nettersheim to Cologne. The structure included stone channels, arched bridges, and inspection tunnels, with surviving sections visible at several locations along the route.

Roman engineers built the water channel between the 1st and 3rd centuries to supply drinking water to Cologne. The system remained in operation until the end of Roman rule and served the city throughout that period.

The aqueduct demonstrates Roman engineering methods through its precise gradient calculations, allowing water flow solely through gravitational force.

A hiking trail follows much of the former course and connects the different archaeological sites. Information panels along the route explain the layout and operation of the ancient structure.

The channel relied entirely on the natural slope of the land and required no pumps for transporting water. The average gradient measured less than half a meter per kilometer.

Location: North Rhine-Westphalia

GPS coordinates: 50.51270,6.61080

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:18