R1.06 Penzenstein route
4040 Linz
"Close to heaven – with a vertical view into the Danube valley"
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- Loop
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Cultural/historical value
- Geological highlights
Magnificent summit bike ride from the Upper Danube valley to the panoramic view village of Pfarrkirchen in the Mühlkreis (840 m), the highest point of all Danube bike rounds! Breathtaking distant views to the Alps, a enjoyable descent over the landscape balcony of Pühret, ... reward you. Final highlight: Vertical Danube view from Penzenstein.
Highlights:
- Pfarrkirchen in the Mühlkreis (highest point of all Danube bike rounds, panoramic viewpoint)
- Penzenstein (pilgrimage chapel and deep Danube view)
Located in the deep gorge of the Upper Danube valley – at the Ranna mouth into the Danube – the secluded Rannamühl is the starting point for this magnificent summit bike ride. Initially, you warm up cycling downstream along the broad Danube on quiet side roads. About 1.7 km after Niederranna, the 550-meter elevation summit ascent begins! The first third leads in shady mixed forest in switchbacks through the steep flank of the Danube narrow valley. At the mystical Marsbach castle, once a feared robber knights’ nest, the hardest section is done.
You continue higher through the narrow Marsbach gorge, then the landscape opens up – a first sense of altitude provides a welcome feeling of success. Now lush meadows, fertile fields, scattered farm hamlets, small woods ... pure Mühlviertel rural idyll delight you! Over gentle farm roads, you climb to the ridge at Emmerstorf. Here, a first view opens onto the village of Hofkirchen in the center of a rolling high plateau. A hidden paradise is the first thought. The relaxed riding with gentle ups and downs to the village allows regeneration. In the charming village center, the large parish church, townhouses, village fountain, pillory ... tell of a long market history. A highlight: The plant labyrinth just above the village. An ancient power place staged symbolically and surprising with its sublime view!
Over a natural dirt road – partly steeper – you reach the next terrain balcony. There you ride relaxed on farm roads towards Hamet. The final climb leads through ancient mixed mountain forest to the panoramic view village of Pfarrkirchen. At the forest edge above the parish church is the “summit” – a magnificent panoramic viewpoint (840 m). Congratulations, you are standing at the highest point of all Danube bike rounds! Wonderful deep views let you feel the altitude and dreamlike Alpine views show boundless vastness. Simply breathtaking! Another reward: 2.3 km of pure downhill fun – rushing through natural mountain forest interspersed with magnificent distant views! The remaining 5.4 km downhill to Oberkappel offer with four small climbs enjoyable scenic highlights.
In the bourgeois market town Oberkappel, a short visit to the market square ensemble resembling a town square is worth it. After crossing the Ranna river, the last big ascent begins: you cycle about 3 km, partly steeper, uphill. Natural mountain forest sections direct your gaze inward, rural cultivated land gives a sense of altitude. Almost over the mountain you reach the rural village Neustift. After a short descent into the Stöcklbach gorge, a shady forest ascent follows to the Bavarian border. Congratulations! Now you are on the gentle landscape balcony of Pühret directly above the Danube gorge. Through rural cultivated landscape, you ride pleasantly down the long, slightly rolling ridge. The final highlight: The short detour to the legendary viewpoint Penzenstein with a magnificent deep view to the Danube and to Engelhartszell with its famous monastery! Shortly after the village, the fast forest descent begins, past Rannariedl castle, through the steep flank of the Danube narrow valley. Once at the Danube shore, you cycle downstream along the broad mythic river on the legendary towpath. A magnificent summit bike ride with plenty of scenic impressions!
Tip:Explorations with a pleasurable stop! This route passes directly by the following culinary partners:
Safety guidelines:
The main part of this wonderful summit bike route uses quiet, paved (side) roads. Between Hofkirchen and Hamet, a 1.3 km section runs over a steeper dirt road! Basic shifting skills are necessary for the long – partly steeper – ascent. Basic braking skills are necessary for the long – partly steeper – descent. Barely suitable for classic racing bikes.
Signposting
To help you orient yourself, the Danube bike rounds have been marked with their own cycling guidance system. This route follows the signposting "R1.06 Penzenstein route".
Paths covering:
further information:
- Flatly
- Board possible
Public Transit
How to travel to the Upper Danube region in Upper Austria?
The quickest way to your destination – by train, bus, car, boat, or airplane.
Parking
Rannamühle parking lot
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
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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The tour recommendations posted were created with utmost care; nevertheless, we assume no liability for the correctness and completeness of the information.
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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1. Each of your tour recommendations for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc., along with other details and information, is free of charge. In particular regarding the correctness of the information, we assume no liability, nor do we assume any liability whatsoever for the consequences of the use of your tour recommendation by a third party (in particular by a user of this website). We do not review the tour recommendations you post, including other details and information, at any time.
We have no intention of concluding a contract with persons who post tour recommendations and/or other details and information on this website. Posting data (information) does not imply that a contract has been concluded.
By recommending a tour, we assume special responsibility vis-à-vis other athletes. Please take this responsibility seriously and describe your tour recommendation with utmost care and to the best of your knowledge and belief.
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