Klein Venedig

Little Venice isn’t a separate neighborhood, but rather a section of the “Grand Canal” on Stobenstraße. What makes this area special is that the buildings extend right up to the water’s edge; the houses stand directly on the water. The best view is from the bridge on Stobenstraße.

From there, the view looks back toward the rear of the market stalls. There, the canal disappears beneath the houses: the street runs over a bridge lined with buildings, similar to the Krämerbrücke in Erfurt, yet somehow quite different. Anyone walking through the Krambuden doesn’t realize they’re walking on a bridge. The structure isn’t visible until you reach Little Venice.

The canals were not built for decorative purposes. The marshy Okera floodplain had to be drained, and at the same time, the growing city needed water and transportation routes. Construction of the Great Canal began in 1588. The design of Wolfenbüttel’s waterworks can be traced back to the Dutch architect Hans Vredeman de Vries. In the 19th century, many canals were filled in or covered over—partly because they served as both a source of drinking water and a sewer. Little Venice is thus one of the few surviving sections.

The bridge, with its lush floral decorations, is a popular photo spot, especially in the summer. The yellow house to the right of the bridge houses the Vita-Villa, a cultural venue hosting regular exhibitions and concerts. If the door is open, you’re welcome to step inside.

Downstream, the sound of rushing water is unmistakable: there lies the weir of the Schünemann Mill, one of the city’s many former mills. Today, the building is used by the Federal Academy for Cultural Education.