Ludwig-Main-Danube-Canal

The first person who wanted to build a Connection between the Danube and the Rhein was Charlemagne in 793. This trench was called "Fossa Carolina". After the attempt, it was given up soon thereafter. In the 19th century King Ludwig I. made the next attempt to build a connection, mainly because of the industrial revolution. The waterway between Kelheim and Bamberg was called the Ludwig-Danube-Main-Canal. Due to low traffic and the railway - the heaviest competitior - the canal was given up in the 1950s. In the second half of the 19th century, a second canal was planned that would connect the Rhein with the Danube, called the Europe Canal Rhein-Main-Danube. After several years of planning the work started. Due to WW II the work stopped and restarted in 1949. The Extension of the Main was finished in 1962. In the 1970s and 80s a discussion started due to the environmental damage caused by the construction. Finally the whole Project was finished in 1992 after 32 years of construction and a cost of 2.4 Billion Euros. Currently, the canal flows at a length of 171 Kilometers trough Bavaria including the 50 Kilometers between Kelheim and Berching, called the "Lower Rhein-Main-Danube-Canal". On this part there are four ship locks.