About Kriebstein Dam

The Talsperre Kriebstein on the Zwickauer Mulde river in the Mittelsachsen district of Saxony was completed in 1930, making it one of Germany's oldest large reservoirs still in active service. With a capacity of 33.6 million cubic metres, the concrete gravity dam stands 37 metres tall and impounds a valley that had been the site of the historic Kriebstein castle since the 14th century. The castle, perched dramatically above the reservoir on a rocky promontory, is now one of Saxony's most visited medieval monuments and can be reached by boat from the Kriebstein harbour. The reservoir was originally built for flood control and hydroelectric power generation serving the Döbeln and Chemnitz area. Today it is managed by the LTV Sachsen primarily for flood protection, recreation, and as a compensation reservoir for downstream ecological flow requirements under the EU Water Framework Directive. The surrounding Zwickauer-Mulde-Tal nature park preserves significant riparian habitats with otter, kingfisher, and breeding populations of sand martin in the steep clay banks. The Kriebstein reservoir is a popular sailing and rowing destination, and the dam structure is open to guided visits.