Oldau barrage, Hydroelectric power station and barrage in Hambühren and Winsen an der Aller, Germany.
The Oldau barrage spans the Aller River, integrating a power generation facility with water control mechanisms and a lock in a single structure. Its design reflects early 20th-century engineering with heavy concrete and steel components built to last.
Built between 1910 and 1911, the facility generated electricity for more than 70 years before being decommissioned in 1982. It remained structurally unchanged throughout its operation, preserving the engineering methods of its era.
The barrage reflects how local communities harnessed water power and shaped their environment to meet daily needs. Today it stands as a physical reminder of how engineering becomes woven into the landscape.
The site is accessible via marked walking paths that connect to the nearby Museumshof Winsen an der Aller, offering an easy starting point for a circuit walk. Parking is available near the Allerbrücke and is straightforward to locate.
The facility preserves its original early 20th-century construction and stands as the only hydroelectric power station in northern Germany with this unchanged original equipment intact. This offers visitors rare insight into the technical solutions developed during the earliest phase of electrification.
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