Simbach estuary into the Inn

Where the Simbach meets the Inn - nature, history and new life

In Simbach am Inn, on the Bavarian-Austrian border, the Simbach stream of the same name flows gently into the mighty Inn. This estuary not only marks the end of a small stream, but also the beginning of a remarkable project for man and nature.

The Simbach, which gives the town its name, was an inconspicuous watercourse for centuries - until 2016, when a devastating heavy rain disaster caused it to burst its banks. The dramatic floods left deep scars on the town and on people's consciousness.

But a vision has emerged from the disaster: Today, the Simbach has been renaturalized, calmed and redesigned. Before it flows into the Inn, the dam was moved back over a distance of 400 meters - so that the water has more space again. The result is a stream with gravel banks, boulders, dead wood and a natural gradient - ideal for fish, birds and other animal species that have found a new home here.

New walking and cycling paths along the banks invite visitors to linger, observe and relax.