The German Danube

Individual arrival in Donaueschingen. The day is free to explore the town. The Brigach and Breg Black Forest rivers join to form the Danube in Donaueschingen, but even the Romans thought the source of the river was located in the park of the Fürstenberg castle. The castle, built in the Belle Epoch style, is a testament to the importance of the Fürstenberg family. It has an excellent natural history collection and houses many important paintings and sculptures from the modern period. Overnight stay in Donaueschingen.

The first stage leads you through the so-called "Baar" landscape. In Pfohren a visit to the old Entenburg castle is worthwhile. In Immendingen you will be able to visit an important natural phenomenon: the sinking of the Danube. The river disappears beneath the porous chalk rock for the majority of the year and instead of flowing to the Black Sea flows towards Lake Constance and finally into the Rhein. After Tuttlingen the valley begins to narrow and follows the path the Danube has carved through the Swabian Alb. You will then reach the towns of Fridingen and Beuron, with its famous Benedictine monastery. Overnight stay in Muhlheim or Fridingen.

Today you will travel through the Danube opening which will probably be one of the most beautiful sections of your trip. The river and cycle path snake between towering chalk cliffs, many of which are crowned with castles or ruins on the way to Sigmaringen, the former capital town of the principality of the same name. The castle in Sigmaringen is still inhabited and houses a large collection of weapons where you can stop and have a guided tour. Overnight in Sigmaringen.

A leisurely cycle today as you follow the course of the river until just after Hundersingen where you may take a break to visit the open air museum in Heuneburg to discover all about the life of the Celts. Shortly before you reach your overnight destination Riedlingen, you will pass the Historical Hanging Garden of Neufra. If open, it is worth a visit!

Passing Zwiefaltendorf Castle, you reach Obermarchtal Monastery. Continue along the Danube via the small town of Munderkingen with its well-preserved halftimbered houses and its parish church of St. Dionysius from the 13th century. Later you will reach the pretty market town of Ehingen where you hotel is located.

You will leave the modern Danube behind you today and cycle through the valley of the ancient Danube to Blaubeuren. Behind the monastery you will find the famous Blautopf, an amazing limestone spring which is the start of a large system of caves, where according to legend a beautiful nymph lived. Medieval castles and ruins accompany you along the Blau until you reach the Swabian-Bavarian double city of Ulm with the highest church tower in the world. Enjoy this city at the end of your journey with its great shopping and metropolitan flair. Overnight stay in Ulm.

Between Ulm and Dillingen you will pass village after village, located a little off the road and safe from the river floods which are all beautifully well kept. In Elchingen you can visit the pilgrimage church, Günzburg offers visitors the Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche) in Rococo style. Overnight stay in Lauingen or Dillingen.

Today you will cycle to Höchstädt with its castle of the Dukes of Pfalz from Pfalz-Neuburg. You will continue along good quality paths through the Donauauen. Today's destination is Donauwörth, picturesquely situated on the mouth of the Wörnitz, where the most important trade route between Nürnberg and Augsburg once crossed the Danube. Today the beautiful houses testify to the historical importance of the town. The Käthe-Kruse-Puppenmuseum (Doll Museum) is a treat for both young and old. Overnight stay in Donauwörth.

Today's route is along good quality surfaces. Just before Marxheim you will come to the foothills of the Franconian Jura which will introduce some small hills to your cycle. Don't miss a visit to the old town of Neuburg before continuing on towards Ingolstadt. The city is well known as the manufacturing site of Audi but it has much more to offer than just factory buildings. The Museum Mobile is worth a visit and you should take a stroll through the old town within the old fortified walls. Overnight stay in Ingolstadt.

You will cycle along the Danube today to Neustadt and further on through fields of hops to Bad Gögging. The Romans settled here and the excavated fort remains are a testament to this. From here it is only a few kilometers to Abensberg. The small town has a lovely renovated historic old town. You should not miss the beer garden of the Hundertwasser brewery Kuchlbauer!

Along the Abens and then the Danube you cycle to the Weltenburg monastery, where a very special natural spectacle awaits you: the Danube breakthrough, where the Danube has carved its way through a massive Jura rock. But be sure to have a refreshment in the monastery's beer garden before taking a boat through the Danube breakthrough to Kelheim and from there on to Regensburg, the most northerly point of the Danube. The town is known as the best preserved city in Germany and has been declared a world cultural monument by UNESCO. Round off your day with a walk through the winding lanes of the Spital quarter. Overnight stay in Regensburg.

You should take your first break of the day at the Walhalla Temple near Donaustauf. The Temple is based on the Pantheon and was built by Ludwig I with construction finishing in 1842. Your trip then continues on along the Danube which curves along the broad, flat landscape in generous meanders. You will pass Wörth Castle and find yourself in the middle of the so-called “Gäuboden” landscape. Today's destination is the town of Straubing, which looks back on a Celtic and Roman past and has a distinctive town tower. Overnight stay in Straubing.

Today you will firstly cycle through Bogen, which attained fame in 1104 when a statue of a pregnant Madonna was found. You will then continue on through Pfelling and Mariaposching and on to the Benedictine Abbey of Metten, before arriving in Deggendorf, the gateway to the Bavarian Forest. Gothic and Baroque architecture dominate the pear-shaped old town. Overnight stay in Deggendorf.

Your last stage leads you to the historical, little town of Vilshofen, which attained fame due to the Ash Wednesday talks which the chairman of the CSU party, Strauss held there. In no time at all you will reach your destination, the three-river city and former diocesan town of Passau. Take time to discover the Danube, Inn and Ilz on a boat trip and round off your holiday with a stroll through the old town or a visit to the Feste Oberhaus Fortress. Overnight stay in Passau.

After breakfast the trip concludes. Note: this itinerary can easily be combined with the Danube Cycle, which follows the Danube across three European borders to Budapest. Ask our staff for details.