Gefütterter Graben bei Ungelstetten, Archaeological canal structure in Winkelhaid, Germany
The Gefütterter Graben near Ungelstetten is a medieval canal with earthen walls and a channel depression stretching about one and a half kilometers near the Röthenbach area. The structure was built with clay lining to prevent water loss through the channel walls.
The project was built between 1423 and 1425 under architect Hans Velber from Ulm, who designed it to supply water to Nuremberg. The facility was part of a larger medieval infrastructure supporting the city's craft industries.
The canal demonstrates medieval water control techniques that craftspeople from Nuremberg relied on for their daily work. The way water was directed shows how essential clean water was for trades like leather working and dyeing.
The site is accessible year-round via the Rotpunkt hiking trail starting from the road connecting Ungelstetten and Brunn. Wear sturdy footwear and follow the marked trails to explore the full extent of the canal and its structures.
The name comes from its clay lining, an innovative waterproofing solution still visible today. This early sealing technique shows how carefully medieval engineers designed water systems.
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