Erlenbach (Lauter)
| Erlenbach | |
|---|---|
| Location |
Wasgau, Rhineland-Palatinate,  Germany
|
| Reference no. | DE: 23728 |
| Basin features | |
| Main source | The Löffelsberg near Oberschlettenbach 272 m above sea level (NN) 49°09′01″N 7°53′20″E / 49.150342°N 7.888929°ECoordinates: 49°09′01″N 7°53′20″E / 49.150342°N 7.888929°E |
| River mouth |
Wieslauter in Niederschlettenbach 203 m above sea level (NN) 49°05′02″N 7°50′53″E / 49.083778°N 7.848000°E |
| Progression | Lauter → Rhine → North Sea |
| River system | Rhine |
| Basin size | 18.815 km² |
| Landmarks | Villages: Oberschlettenbach, Vorderweidenthal, Erlenbach, Niederschlettenbach |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 9.04 km |
The Erlenbach is a stream, over 9 km long, in the South Palatine Wasgau region of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is a left tributary of the Lauter which, here in its upper reaches is still called the Wieslauter.
The Erlenbach has a main source and a rather smaller subsidiary source, which are only a few hundred metres from one another on the eastern flank of the 445-metre-high Löffelsberg. They are located in the Wasgau, which comprises the southern part of the Palatinate Forest and the adjoining northern part of the French Vosges Mountains.
Initially the stream flows eastwards passing through the parish of Oberschlettenbach, its two headstreams meeting after 2 km, the smaller brook emptying from the right into the bigger one. The combined Erlenbach swings south and passes the villages of Vorderweidenthal and Erlenbach. In Niederschlettenbach it discharges into the Wieslauter from the left.
Immediately east of the source area lies the Südliche Weinstraße Wildlife Park and the castle of Lindelbrunn.
Drachenfels Castle, 3 km west of the middle reaches of the stream, was destroyed in 1523, because part of it had belonged to the rebel knight Francis of Sickingen.
The Berwartstein, still occupied and managed today, was once the possession of the knight, Hans von Trotha who, as Hans Trapp has been absorbed into local legend. The castle rises above the left bank of the Erlenbach over the village of the same name, whilst on the opposite hillside is the tower of Little France.
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Wikipedia