The historic village of Michelau is protected from the floods of the Upper Sauer situated on a bulge in the riverbank created by an ancient fluvial terrace through which three streams run. At the foot of the village, the Upper Sauer valley widens and gives way to vast expanses of wet meadow. This implantation is probably the origin of the name of Michelau: Au or Aue meaning floodplain or meadows surrounded by water in German.