Danube Cycle Path
Through the magic garden of a romantic landscape.
-
Donauradweg
The tour takes us along the beautiful Danube Cycle Path from Emmersdorf on the Danube, through the cultural landscape of Wachau to our destination of the statutory city of Krems on the Danube. On our drive through the valley, which has been declared a world and cultural heritage by UNESCO, we pass Aggsbach, Spitz and Weißenkirchen in the Wachau, among others, until we finally come to our destination, the commercial and cultural city of Krems.
As soon as you leave Emmersdorf, you will very easily learn why UNESCO has declared the Wachau a World Heritage Site: rock cliffs rise out of steep forest slopes, vineyards gently curve, Danube waves play on sandy beaches, historic ruins, old villages and hospitable wine taverns line your path.
From the ancient Aggsbach you have an excellent view of the ruined castle Aggstein on the opposite bank, where - according to legend - terrible robber knights were once overtaken by justice. An archaeological find made Willendorf famous: the "Venus". A small sculpture of a woman (today in the Natural History Museum Vienna) is in remembrance of the area being populated for 50,000 years.
In Schwallenbach, some historical walls keep the Middle Ages alive; one of them being a bizarre rock formation shortly before Spitz: the Devil's Wall. The hell prince wanted to use it to stow the water of the Danube. In Spitz, old tusks and manors from the 16th century, the late Gothic parish church, the ruins of the Hinterhaus and the Maritime Museum tempt you to take a cultural break.
The mighty fortified church of St. Michael (municipality of Weißenkirchen) tells the folk tale of rabbits “running” on its roof ridge, which supposedly a snowy winter once drove up there. And in the local Wachau Museum you can admire one of the artistic Wachau traditional costume "gold caps" up close. The main attraction of the Heurigenort Wösendorf is the late baroque parish church with altarpieces of the so-called "Kremser Schmidts" (Martin Johann Schmidt, 1718-1801).
The location on the river, the lovely vineyards, forest slopes and rock formations all around have made Dürnstein one of the most popular Austrian travel destinations. The blue tower of Stift Dürnstein can be seen from afar, and King Richard the Lionheart was once imprisoned in the spacious castle ruins with great views. Soon after you have crossed the wine village of Unterloiben, you will reach Krems, the destination of this stage.
Difficulty: easy
Distance: 34km
Ascent: ↑ 250m
Descent: ↓ 261m
Duration: 2.5 h
Lowest point: 195m
Highest point: 230m