It rises in the Franconian Jura hills, near Weißenburg in Bayern.

It flows generally north through the towns Weißenburg in Bayern, Ellingen and Pleinfeld.

Together with the Franconian Rezat, it forms the Rednitz in Georgensgmünd.

In its upper course the Rezat is close to the continental water shed between Rhine and Danube.

In the 8th century Charlemagne tried to build a canal between Rezat and Altmühl which were only 3 km away from each other.