Neckar

Neckar is a river in southwestern Germany, a right-bank tributary of the Rhine. It rises in the central Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg and flows generally northward for about 367 kilometers, draining a catchment of roughly 14,000 square kilometers. The river passes through several major towns and cities, including Tübingen, Stuttgart, Heilbronn, Heidelberg, and Mannheim, before entering the Rhine at Mannheim.

The Neckar’s course defines a series of culturally and economically important valleys. In its middle and lower courses it flows through the Württemberg wine region and the Rhine plain, contributing to viticulture, tourism, and industry. The river has a long history of navigation and timber transport; today some sections are navigable for freight and tourist boats, aided by a system of locks and weirs.

Tributaries such as the Kocher, Jagst, and Enz join the Neckar along its length. The river supports diverse habitats and floodplains, and its management includes flood protection, water supply, and ecological restoration in line with European water policies.

The Neckar is a defining geographic feature of Baden-Württemberg. It has shaped urban development, from medieval towns to modern industrial centers, and remains a symbol of regional identity in the Neckar valley.