Rodl River

The Rodl is a northern tributary of the Danube in Upper Austria. Its main branch, the Große Rodl, rises north of Bad Leonfelden at the Sternstein. Flowing southwest, it passes through Zwettl an der Rodl and skirts Gramastetten and the ruined castle of Lichtenhag. Below the castle at Rottenegg, where the Kleine Rodl joins it, the united river continues west to the Danube at Ottensheim. The Rodl’s waters once reflected red granite from the bedrock, giving the stream its name. The earliest written record, from 777, calls it Raotula, a form derived from the Celtic word for red. Today the river supports trout and barbel populations. Several small hydro-electric plants harness its flow for renewable power along both the Große Rodl and the Kleine Rodl. Paths follow the Rodl through rolling farmland and wooded valleys. Near Bad Leonfelden the river begins its journey at the Sternstein, a granite outcrop. At Zwettl an der Rodl the Steinbach and Eisbach join, while downstream the Aubach and Ranitz add their waters. The ruined castle of Lichtenhag overlooks one stretch, and at Rottenegg the Kleine Rodl merges before the united stream reaches the Danube at Höflein.