Bille (Elbe)

Bille
Bille at Grander Mühle
Location
Country	Germany
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Schleswig-Holstein
Mouth
• location	Elbe
• coordinates	53°32′24″N 10°1′27″E
Length	65 km (213,000 ft)
Basin features
Progression	Elbe→ North Sea

The river Bille (German pronunciation: [ˈbɪlə] ) is a small, slow-flowing German river in Stormarn, Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, a right tributary of the Elbe. Its source is near Linau, north of the heathland Hahnheide forest. It then flows south of Trittau, representing the border between Stormarn and Lauenburg, continues south of Reinbek and reaches the river Elbe near Billwerder. A lot of old estates and tasteful parks are laid out along its riverbank. Its total length is 65 km.

The Bille is one of three rivers which flow through the city of Hamburg, the other two being the Elbe and the Alster.

Bille in Hamburg-Bergedorf

Bille at Schloss Reinbek (Mühlenteich)

Tributaries

The upper Bille drains a wide catchment area with many brooks and small stretches of water. Main tributaries are the Corbek feeding the Bille near Witzhave and the Schwarze Au at Aumühle, having drained wide parts of the large Sachsenwald forest.

Landmarks

• Grander Mühle, an ancient watermill at Kuddewörde, dating back to 1303
• Schloss Reinbek, a castle from 1572
• Schloss Bergedorf, a castle showing wooden raftwork and Brick Gothic

See also

• List of rivers of Schleswig-Holstein
• List of rivers of Hamburg

External links

• Much information on Bille from the Hamburg Department of the Environment (German)