The Romans were responsible for another distinct feature: an intricate canal system. They diverted water from the nearby River Lech as it flowed from the Alps to the Danube. Just south of the city, the Romans divided it into narrow canals – which merge again north of the city and flow back into the Lech.

Today, nearly 12 miles of canals stretch through and under the city. By one count, as many as 600 bridges cross the waterways – more, Augsburgers claim, than in Venice or Amsterdam. Starting as long ago as the 11th century, merchants harnessed the waters to drive more than 60 mills; some waterwheels are still visible.

 

Some citizens fished from in front of their houses. Perhaps the most ingenious use was as a cooling system for the17th-century Butcher Hall. The cool water flowed under the cellar, keeping meat fresh – or as fresh as possible.
The canals in the so-called Lech Quarter give the Old City a distinctive atmosphere. The rushing waters lend a sense of life and movement, the subtle river sound a sense of calm. And then, of course, there are the ducks.