Rivers and Canals

Mulhouse owes much to water, which has shaped its history and development. Several waterways converge here: the Ill, the Doller, and the Rhône-Rhine Canal, with its marina, all recalling this constant presence. Yet water is less visible in the city today than in the past, despite having played a central role in its history. From the 15th century, a network of ditches was dug to strengthen the fortifications, with up to four ditches in the south and three in the north. These waterways also powered mills, served crafts, and helped fight fires. Two streams ran through the city, including the Augustinerbächlein, which originated at Place de la Concorde. According to legend, it was near this stream that a mill gave birth to Mulhouse, then called "Mülhausen" – "houses of the mill" – until 1848. Water also shaped the city's prosperity: thanks to the purity of the Doller’s water, the textile industry was able to develop here. Mulhouse has experienced floods but has managed to harness this resource to write its industrial history.