Danube Cycle Path, stage 4, south bank: Ardagger - Melk
- culturally interesting
- Multi-day tour
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Tour-Details
From the Bicycle Museum to the City of the Nibelungs
On this scenic long-distance bike path, you travel along the Danube from a small, quiet town called Ardagger to the city of Melk, the western gateway to the Wachau. In the picturesque Danube Valley, you pass through the towns of Hössgang, Ybbs an der Donau, Krummnussbaum and Pöchlarn, among others, before arriving in Melk, your destination.
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- Multi-stage route
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Cultural/historical value
- Botanical highlights
- Faunistic highlights
power plant, which is open to visitors
Ardagger is one of the main towns in the Mostviertel. If you are an art enthusiast, you will want to visit the church of the former monastery, which has the oldest figural glass painting in Austria, the “Margaretenfenster” made in the 13th c. If you prefer sports you have a choice of many watersports and the recreational offerings at the Donauwellenpark (=Danube wave park) right along the bike path (beach volleyball, wall climbing, etc.)
Then you proceed through the scenic Strudengau. This narrow section of the Danube Valley is lined with high and densely wooded hills. Every now and then you find inviting sandy beaches along the river and little towns such as Hössgang and Freyenstein to add variety to your journey.
Soon after the Ybbs-Persenbeug power plant, which is open to visitors (guided tours with advanced reservation only) you reach Ybbs, a small city with a fascinating bicycle museum. It documents all the favorite two-wheelers, from the wooden draisine to the Waffenrad, an Austrian bicycle from the final decades of the Austrian Empire. The Renaissance burgher houses in the historical center are enchanting, as is St. Lorenz’s Church with its impressive reticulated vaulting and an organ that Mozart himself signed during a visit to this city in 1767.
After passing the towns Sarling, Säusenstein and Krummnussbaum you arrive at Pöchlarn, City of the Nibelung. Its sights include the birthplace of the painter Oskar Kokoschka (exhibitions) and a carpentry museum. The Nibelung memorial reminds visitors that this ancient epic was also set in Pöchlarn and along the Danube itself. 45 short minutes later you reach Melk, the western gateway to the Wachau.
Directions:Ardagger Markt - Hössgang - Ybbs an der Donau - Krummnussbaum - Pöchlarn - Melk
Route description:
You start the tour in Ardagger Markt and find your way to the Danube. There you begin the route on the Danube Bike Path. With a beautiful view of the river, you cycle through the Strudengau and its landscape shaped by human hands. The Strudengau derives its name from the many dangerous whirlpools and shoals once found here. Many sailors viewed it as one of the most dangerous sections of the Danube. Today, it is part of the reservoir of the downstream power plant and easily navigated.
You continue along the Danube all the way to Ybbs an der Donau without passing any towns. So, you can have time to enjoy the flora and fauna of the Strudengau, which has an impressively large number of protected trees. In Ybbs an der Donau, it's again time for some culture. The historical center of Ybbs with its renovated Renaissance burgher houses and St. Lorenz Church are worth visiting. Mozart himself initialed the organ at the church on a visit in 1767. Ybbs is also home to the Ybbs-Persenbeug power station, Austria’s largest run-of-river plant. You bike through the city and subsequently cross the Ybbs.
Following a small stretch of this river, you return to the Danube by Sarling. Your next stop is Krummnussbaum (literally “crooked walnut tree”), whose name originates most likely with the walnut trees that formerly grew along the river. Pöchlarn is next. This community was known in the Early Middle Ages as Bechelaren and is mentioned in the Lay of the Nibelungen as the seat of Rüdiger von Bechelaren. It is also the last big town between you and Melk, your destination. After a tranquil but relaxing ride along the Danube you finally come to the end of today's stage.
Melk is a fine conclusion to this tour, because it is a genuine cultural highlight. Melk Abbey is part of the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. The abbey has been called “the most symbolic and dominant Baroque complex” and is home to Stiftsgymnasium Melk, the oldest school in Austria. The famous Wachau section of the Danube Valley begins here, so the hills become higher and steep vineyards start to appear on all slopes. An ideal panorama to bring this current stage to an end.
further information:
- Multi-day tour
- Board possible
Getting there
Coming from Linz you take the A7 south. At the Linz autobahn junction, you continue on the A1 toward Vienna. At Amstetten you get on the B119 to Ardagger.Public Transit
Take the Bus from Linz.Parking
At Ardagger Markt
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Early winter
Please get in touch for more information.
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz
Phone +43 732 7277 - 800
Fax machine +43 732 7277 - 804
E-Mail info@donauregion.at
Web www.donauregion.at
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1. The tours presented for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc. are to be considered non-paid tour recommendations and only serve as non-binding information. We have no intention of concluding a contract with the users of this website. The utilisation of the data does not lead to the establishment of a contract with us.
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We point out that neither the tour recommendations included on this website nor the associated data and information were posted by us, but rather by third parties (Art. 16 Austrian E-Commerce Act). We have no influence on whether the details provided (e.g. distance, level of difficulty, change in altitude, description etc.) are authentic, correct and complete. We do not review these third-party contents. For this reason, we assume no liability for the authenticity, correctness and completeness of the information.
Construction-related measures or other influences (e.g. landslides and similar occurrences) can lead to temporary or permanent changes in a route (e.g. loss of a bridge and similar occurrences). Such occurrences can lead to part of the route or the entire route becoming impassable.
The use of the data as well as undertaking (riding, walking, taking etc.) the recommended tours or using the network of paths occurs at users’ own risk and on their authority. In particular, users themselves are responsible for the choice of route, outdoor orientation, adherence to traffic rules, supplies and equipment for tours listed in Point 1 (e.g. bicycle etc.), wearing a helmet, estimating their own fitness, recognising dangers and maintaining an appropriate velocity. We exclude ourselves from any liability whatsoever for damages, in particular accidents, that occur whilst taking part in the recommended tours.
2.Some of the tours lead over roads with normal traffic conditions. Please observe that there is an increased risk which can be avoided by means of appropriate attention and proper estimation and implementation of one’s own abilities. For this reason, please travel a route that is unfamiliar to you slowly and with special care. Pay constant attention to potential dangers and always observe traffic. Do not leave the routes featured in descriptions.
The potential use of private roads, in particular forestry roads and agricultural transport roads, can be subject to legal restrictions, which must be observed and adhered to.
The normal traffic rules apply. Each user (e.g. biker, motorbiker) is responsible for adhering to these rules and maintaining his/her bike/vehicle and its equipment (lights, brakes etc.) in good working order. Each user is also responsible for ensuring that he/she rides at a velocity that is appropriate for the conditions and his/her skill level and for maintaining sufficient distance to the rider in front. We explicitly recommend adjusting velocity to correspond to the respective field of vision, wearing a helmet, using reflective clothing (or similar) and employing bicycle lights in line with regulations.
3.Each tour requires good physical fitness as well as detailed planning. We explicitly recommend only taking the tours in the case of optimal healthiness.
We recommend that you conclude an accident and liability insurance policy. Use an onboard computer that displays the respective kilometres travelled per day and is calibrated for the front wheel.
4.Special for mountain bikers – Fair-play rules:
Mountain biking is one of the most wonderful outdoor leisure-time activities. Whilst biking or on a mountain biking tour, mountains and lakes, meadows and cabins are re-discovered in new ways. A couple of rules for fair play in the forest help to avoid conflicts whilst mountain biking.
a.Pedestrians have the right of way: We are accommodating and friendly to pedestrians and hikers. Upon encountering these fellow travellers, we alert them by using the bicycle bell and slowly overtake them. We avoid paths with heavy pedestrian traffic altogether. Take nature into account: We do not leave refuse behind.
b.The braking distance should be half of the total distance visible: We ride at a controlled pace, are ready to brake and maintain a braking distance half as long as the total distance visible, especially in curves, because we always have to count on obstacles on the path. Damage to the path, stones, branches, wood piles, grazing livestock, cattle grids, barriers, tractor-type forestry machines and authorised vehicles pose dangers that we need to be ready for.
c.Don’t drink and drive!: Do not drink alcohol when mountain biking. Take care at stop-off points (dealing with bike racks, dirty shoes or clothing).
It is obligatory to provide first aid!
d.Marked routes, closed paths and blockades: Keep to the marked routes, observe the blockades and accept that these roads are primarily for agricultural and forestry use!
Blockades can often not be avoided and are in your own interest. Biking beyond the intended path and outside of opening times is punishable and turns us into illegal bikers.
e.We are guests in the forest and behave accordingly, including vis-à-vis forestry and hunting staff. Whilst mountain biking, mobile telephones and music players are forbidden! Biking requires your full attention.
f.Avoid unnecessary noise. Out of consideration to the animals living in the wild, we only bike during full daylight. As a principle, we always wear our helmet (even when riding uphill)! Don’t forget emergency supplies: We always have a repair set and bandages along.
g.Don’t overestimate your skills: We should not overdo it when it comes to biking technique and physical fitness. Take the level of difficulty posed by the route into consideration and make a precise estimate of your experience and skills as a biker (braking, bell, lights)!
h.Close gates: We approach grazing livestock at a walking pace and close every gate behind us. We should avoid causing escape and panic reactions in the animals. Nothing stands in the way of the fun and athletic challenge in the mountains and forests!
i.Traffic rules: The general traffic rules (StVO) apply for all the mountain biking routes and we adhere to them. Our bike therefore needs to be in perfect technical condition and equipped in line with the traffic rules, including brakes, a bell and lights. We inspect and service our mountain bikes regularly anyway.
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