Augsburger Kanumuseum

In Augsburg's Spickel district you'll find the Eiskanal (Ice Canal), a historic whitewater course originally designed as a bypass channel for drifting ice to protect the turbines of the local waterworks. For the 1972 Summer Olympics, the structure was transformed into a modern canoe slalom course in just ten months, with Munich architects handling the landscape integration. As the oldest artificially built canoe slalom course in the world, it is a central part of Augsburg's water management system and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019.

The course is fed by water from the Lech River, which is channeled in via the Hauptstadtbach stream. Because the course operates without electric pumps, running costs are low, while rounded installations and a flat bed minimize the risk of injury for athletes. You can watch the action along the 660-meter Olympic course, with its challenging drops, hydraulics, and eddies, and there is room for a large crowd. In addition to the main course, there is a youth channel and a children's course, suited to different skill levels.

The Eiskanal is far more than a historic relic: it is an active national training center that regularly hosts international competitions such as World and European Championships as well as World Cup stops. The combination of historical significance, technical innovation, and athletic activity makes the site a fascinating destination for travelers interested in water engineering and canoeing.