Rench

Rench
The Rench dyke near Lautenbach
Location	Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Reference no.	DE: 2354
Basin features
Main source	at Kniebis near Bad Griesbach im Schwarzwald-Zuflucht source Schöngrundbächle ca. 915 m above sea level (NN) 48°29′27″N 8°14′49″E / 48.4908639°N 08.2469944°E / 48.4908639; 08.2469944Coordinates: 48°29′27″N 8°14′49″E / 48.4908639°N 08.2469944°E / 48.4908639; 08.2469944
River mouth	at Rhine km 314.700, near Rheinau/Lichtenau/Helmlingen into the Rhine 123 m 48°43′22″N 7°58′00″E / 48.7226583°N 7.9665861°E / 48.7226583; 7.9665861
Progression	Rhine → North Sea
River system	Rhine
Basin size	306.1 km²
Landmarks	Small towns: Oppenau, Oberkirch, Renchen Villages: Bad Peterstal-Griesbach, Lautenbach, Erlach
Population	88650
Tributaries	Left: Ödsbach, Hesselbach Right: Lierbach, Acher (Teilmenge)
Physical characteristics
Length	56.98 km
Discharge	Location: Average rate: 8.37 m³/s

The Rench is a right-hand tributary of the River Rhine in the Ortenau (Central Baden, Germany). It rises on the southern edge of the Northern Black Forest at Kniebis near Bad Griesbach im Schwarzwald. The source farthest from the mouth is that of the Schöngrundbächle which rises at a height of around 915 m above NN in the parish of Zuflucht near the old youth hostel. After flowing through its steep mountainside klinge it is joined by other streams to form, first, the Old (Alter), then the Wild Rench (Wilder Rench), which first becomes the Rench below Bad Griesbach. The Rench runs in a prominent southerly arc through the Central Black Forest and crosses the hilly region of Ortenau with its orchards and vineyards before breaking out into the Rhine Plain. After just under 57 km it discharges, together with the Mühlbach, into the Rhine at kilometre 314.700 between Helmlingen (Rheinau) and Lichtenau.

The upper Rench valley around Bad Peterstal-Griesbach initially cuts into the forested bunter sandstone plateaux before entereing a more open, very rugged valley with steep relief, whose centre is the little town of Oppenau. There it is joined from the right by the Lierbach, well known for the All Saints Waterfalls. In Lautenbach the valley broadens suddenly into the Foothill Zone with the town of Oberkirch at the foot of the vineyards and the little town of Renchen, whose environs are dominated by orchards.