430 kilometres of the German Danube in Bavaria
The Danube is the second largest and second longest river in Europe. It flows through a total of eight countries. In Bavaria you follow this extraordinary river from Neu-Ulm to the “City of Three Rivers”, Passau, where it crosses the border into Austria. The culture route of the German Danube with its popular Danube Cycle Route offers you unique holiday experiences. In Germany the long-distance cycle route covers some 610 kilometres, and more than two-thirds of this passes through Bavaria. The German Danube is thrilling, changeable, magical and relaxing at the same time. Regardless of whether you want a sporty or a relaxed tempo – on the Danube Cycle Route you set the pace yourself.
The Danube Cycle Route: by bike through Bavarian nature and culture.
The first stretch starts at the source of the Danube in Donaueschingen or Furtwangen in the state of Baden-Württemberg – the exact location of the river’s source remains a mystery even today. The second stretch takes you through the “divided” city of Ulm and then into Bavaria. In the river landscape of Donauried you can take a dip in the bathing lakes and wander through wetlands that provide habitat for numerous plants and animals. All along the Danube Cycle Route, former seats of the nobility, such as Günzburg, Dillingen and Höchstädt, invite you to explore their historic city centres. The goal of this stretch is Ingolstadt, Bavaria’s youngest city, with a flair that comprises elements of relaxed tradition and dynamic modernism.
In Ingolstadt the third stage of your journey along the Danube Cycle Route begins. Between Weltenburg and Kelheim you will come across the unique spectacle of the Donaudurchbruch, a breathtaking natural gorge. This is where the German Danube carves its way through the 100-metre-high cliffs of the Franconian Jura. Along the banks of the river you can experience the beauty of this cultural landscape at first hand. High above the Donaudurchbruch, Weltenburg Abbey, with the oldest monastery brewery in the world, can be seen. In the adjoining beer garden, guests can enjoy a glass of cool beer and regional delicacies such as white sausages as well as hearty snacks. The next highlight along the German Danube is just around the corner: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Regensburg. Visit the famous icons of this metropolis on the Danube, such as the Stone Bridge, the Gothic cathedral and the Walhalla in the Danube Valley in front of the gates of the city.
In Regensburg the course of the German Danube veers off to the south-east. Thus your next stop is Straubing, which has been considered the heart of the Gäuboden since Roman times. Meandering in great loops, the Bavarian Danube then makes its way through wide plains until it reaches Deggendorf in the Low Mountains, which formed millions of years ago. At the end of your cycle tour you will be greeted by the “Venice of the North”: In the three-river city of Passau you will find the cathedral of St. Stephan, the Veste Oberhaus and the exquisite baroque old town. A successful end to an exciting cycle tour along the German Danube.
