Ronceva

Ronceva
Lower reaches of the Ronceva
State	North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Reference no.	DE: 476142
Basin features
Main source	Wiehen Hills south of Lübbecke ca. 175 m above sea level (NN) 52°17′19″N 8°37′37″E / 52.2885444°N 8.626806°E / 52.2885444; 8.626806Coordinates: 52°17′19″N 8°37′37″E / 52.2885444°N 8.626806°E / 52.2885444; 8.626806
River mouth	north of Lübbecke into the Flöthe 51 m above sea level (NN) 52°19′51″N 8°37′10″E / 52.3308528°N 8.619528°E / 52.3308528; 8.619528
Progression	Flöthe → Große Aa → Weser → North Sea
River system	Weser
Landmarks	Small towns: Lübbecke
Population	ca. 16,000
Physical characteristics
Length	5.052 km

The Ronceva (also Roncevabach) is a stream that flows through the East Westphalian town of Lübbecke.

The source of the Ronceva lies at 230 m above NN in the Wiehen between the hills of Heidbrink and Horsts Höhe at the lower end of the Mensinger Ravine. It flows initially to the east of the B 239 federal road on its way to the town of Lübbecke. The stream flows underground in the area of the town itself. North of the town the Ronceva resurfaces before emptying into the Flöthe flows within Lübbecke's industrial estate, immediately next to the factory buildings of Gauselmann (at 49 m above NN). The Ronceva has a length of around 5 km, of which about 1.5 km is piped underground. The catchment area of the Ronceva covers around 4 km², i.e. just 7% of the total area of the borough of Lübbecke. In spite of its relatively short length the Ronceva flows through three markedly different landscapes: the Wiehen Hills, the Lübbecke Loessland and finally the Rahden-Diepenau Geest.

The old Saxon name for Lübbecke, , which means kleiner Bach (English: "little beck", Low German: lüt Beek or lüttke Beke ) refers to the Ronceva. It was the stream that provided the incentive to found a settlement here; the steep downhill course of the brook supplying power to water mills in the area of the present day town. As a result the Ronceva was led along the eastern ditch of the town and, in about 1750, powered five mills in the town centre. Outside the town, in front of the Bergertor gate (south of the town wall) and the Niedertor gate (in the north of the town) two more mills were driven by the Ronceva. The best-known mill was the Reineberger Amtsmühle ("Reineberg District Mill"). Its associated timber-framed building by the B239 is known today as the Königsmühle ("King's Mill"). The Ronceva was also depicted indirectly on the old coat of arms of the former district of Lübbecke. The wavy bar represents the etymological origin of Lübbecke, which is derived from Hlid beki, i.e. the stream (beki) which is called the Ronceva today. The colours of the coat of arms were those of the Prince-Bishopric of Minden as well as the County of Ravensberg. This old coat of arms was authorised in 1935 by the Prussian State Ministry but was replaced in 1968 by another coat of arms.