The Roman waterworks to Cologne is almost 100 km long (if the auxiliary spurs to additional springs are included, the length was 130 km) and has been constructed by emperor Hadrianus in the 1st century aD.

The waterworks run out of the northern part of the Eifel to Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensum (present-day Cologne) and was built to provide Cologne with fresh, clear drinking water. To get to Cologne the Roman engineers needed a steady angle. A great achievement, laying out the right route without having at one's disposal aerial photographies, exact maps and electronic devices. The construction was almost entirely below ground and the flow of the water was produced entirely by gravity. A few bridges, including one up to 1.400 m in length, were needed to pass over valleys. Unlike some of the other famous Roman aqueducts, the Eifel aqueduct was specifically designed to minimize the above-ground portion to protect it from damage and freezing.

 At Vussem one can see how such an aqueduct looked like (1st photo >>>). In Buschhoven, near Bonn, a small section of the aqueduct is preserved (2nd photo >>>).

In this part of the Eifel you can still find parts of the Roman waterworks (follow the "Römerkanal' walk). Look for more information and pictures at: Wasserleitung.

<<< Aqueduct at Kassel or "Cassellae", the Romans used to call it. This aqueduct is to be found at the Bergpark Bad Wilhelmshöhe. It was built by Earl Karl (1677-1730).