R1.03 Danube Valley Gorge Round
4040 Linz
"Fascination Danube Valley Gorge – River Cycling with Deep Views"
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- Loop
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Family friendly
- Cultural/historical value
The Upper Danube Valley – about 90 km long, up to 300 m deep, home to the largest near-natural gorge and slope mixed forests in Central Europe... On this sporty cycling round, you pedal through the narrow valley floor along the Danube river upstream and return over its roof on the magnificent Sauwald Panorama Road. With a 3 km descent into the Danube gorge.
Highlights:
- Engelszell Abbey (Abbey church is a Rococo jewel)
- Engelhartszell Danube World (large aquarium, sensory garden), Schütz Art Museum ...
- UNESCO World Heritage Site "Kleincastell Oberranna"
- Vichtenstein Castle
- Vichtenstein Parish Church (miraculous Madonna figure)
- St. Aegidi Trout Circus
The Upper Danube Valley – The Danube flows for about 90 km between Hofkirchen in Bavaria and Aschach in Upper Austria through one of its longest breakthrough valleys. East of Passau, this is also the deepest Danube gorge, with depths of up to 300 m. In the inaccessible valley sides, the last large near-natural gorge and slope mixed forests of Central Europe have survived. A natural treasure that is now protected by the European protected area "Upper Danube and Aschach Valley."
The starting point is located on an alluvial plain – Wesenufer. Today unremarkable, the charming Danube village once held special significance: ferry, market rights... and Niederwesen Castle (= today Hotel Wesenufer)! After the settlement area, the bank narrows and you cycle on the Nibelungen Road through the mixed forest of the valley flank – with a brief uphill section – to Oberranna. The UNESCO World Heritage Site "Kleincastell Oberranna" here brings the life on the famous Danube limes back to life. Afterwards, a beautiful bike path accompanies the Nibelungen Road through the forest slope – with another uphill section – to Saag. On side roads, you now cycle along the edge of the rural alluvial plain to the magnificent Engelszell Abbey – a Danube highlight! The world-famous abbey church counts among Austria’s purest Rococo jewels and surprises with a modern ceiling fresco. In Engelhartszell, a short detour into the beautiful town center is worth it: it tells of prosperity as an imperial toll station and merges with the sites of the Engelhartszell Danube World into an experience world “Danube”! At the end of the village, the bank narrows again. Now begins the finest pleasure river cycling: You pedal almost level on the legendary towpath beside the Danube through the forest gorge. The hum of the tires, a cooling breeze, the ship traffic... Just below the Jochenstein power plant, a small rock island with a cross rises from the waves – the Jochenstein. According to legend, the mermaid Isa lives there and lures boatmen to their doom with her song. So watch out! About 2 km above the power plant, the pleasurable bike path again accompanies the Nibelungen Road – now directly on the Danube bank. In Kasten, there was an important ferry to Obernzell: here salt could be transported overland past the Passau toll station to Bohemia. The noteworthy small church and the house "Kasten 1" testify to this time. The rest of the village sank in the backwater of the Jochenstein power plant.
In Pyrawang starts the magnificent Sauwald Panorama Road with a 330 meter ascent to the roof of the Danube gorge. Along the Panorama Road, staged viewpoints surprise with wonderful views into and above the Danube Gorge. So take your time and enjoy! The road leads steadily uphill through the steep forest slope, above impresses rural cultural landscape. The Sauwald high plateau is reached in Oberbamberg. Lush meadows, small fields, beautiful orchards, small woods, scattered farming hamlets... and sublime views – pure Sauwald countryside idyll! In a loop, you cycle enjoyably via Esternberg over the hilly plateau. Shortly after Urschendorf, you have reached its highest point. Congratulations! With a 2 km long regenerative descent, you return to the valley slope of the Danube gorge. The Danube high-altitude village Vichtenstein is an unexpected highlight: the (feud) castle Vichtenstein, the charming parish church with miraculous Madonna, magnificent views... Here starts the "summit storm" on the high road through the eternal forests of the Haugstein (= highest Sauwald peak). The sweat runs, the thoughts fly. At the beginning of the forest clearing of the hamlet Unterweinbrunn, the highest point of the round (660 m) is reached. Congratulations! Through mountain forest, it goes slightly hilly further, then quickly downhill. Finally, you enjoyfully rush over a rural ridge with hidden views of the Danube (Flenken Valley) – and a short counter ascent – down into the forest trench of the rushing brook. A short (forest) ascent brings you back to the Sauwald high plateau. St. Aegidi is the start of a 4.5 km long pleasure descent over a ridge full of Sauwald countryside idyll. The cycling becomes cruising! In Sittling, the ascent to the last ridge begins. Once at the top, the short detour to the extraordinary Four-Quarters View is worth it: the 360° panoramic view allows limitless views into all four quarters of Upper Austria! On the way, the Sauwald high plateau presents itself once more from its most beautiful side. In Waldkirchen am Wesen follows the crowning finale: 3 km of fast downhill fun through the steep forest slope of the Danube valley gorge to Wesenufer. River cycling with deep views!
Tip:Discovery journeys with enjoyable stops! This route passes directly by the following culinary partners:
Safety guidelines:
This sporty cycling route uses entirely quiet, paved (side) roads, country roads, and bike paths. Basic gear shifting skills for the long climb are necessary. Basic braking skills for the long descents are necessary.
Signage:
To make orientation easier for you, the Danube cycling rounds have been marked with their own bike guidance system. This route follows the signage "R1.03 Danube Valley Gorge Round".
Paths covering:
further information:
- Flatly
- Board possible
Public Transit
How to travel to the Upper Austria Danube region?
The fastest way to your destination – by train, bus, car, ship, or airplane.
- 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
Vis-à-vis users
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.
The data may only be used for private use; any commercial use is prohibited. In particular, it is not permissible to offer the data on commercially run websites, file-sharing platforms etc. or to use it to develop commercial products. Downloading data does not imply that users are granted rights to the data concerned.
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.
5.We assume no liability for the contents of external websites; in particular, we assume no liability for their statements and contents. Moreover, we have no influence on the design or contents of the websites to which hyperlinks on guide.oberoesterreich.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to guide.oberoesterreich.at. There is no on-going review of websites to which hyperlinks on guide.oberoesterreich.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to guide.oberoesterreich.at. We do not appropriate the contents of websites to which hyperlinks on guide.oberoesterreich.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to guide.oberoesterreich.at.
Vis-à-vis bloggers
PLEASE OBSERVE:
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.
2.Your tour recommendations must therefore clearly and unambiguously include at least the following criteria and provide a sufficiently detailed description:
• Starting point
• Detailed route description
• Distance/Overall distance
• Level of difficulty
• Dangerous spots
• Average duration of trip
• Change in altitude
• Finishing point.
If possible, please provide the change in altitude.
3.When you post a tour recommendation, you give us the order to save your tour recommendation and/or the details you provide on our website and to make it/them accessible to third parties, in particular to users of this website, in the long term. We reserve the right to block or delete tour recommendations and/or other details and/or information that you post, either partially or entirely, at any time without providing a justification. Should this occur, it grants you no rights whatsoever.
Thank you for your efforts!
4. We are not responsible for the contents of external websites; in particular, we do not assume any liability for their statements or contents. Furthermore, we do not influence the design or contents of websites that can be accessed from guide.oberoesterreich.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to guide.oberoesterreich.at. The websites that can be accessed from guide.oberoesterreich.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to guide.oberoesterreich.at are not regularly monitored. Furthermore, we do not assume any claims to the websites that can be accessed from guide.oberoesterreich.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to guide.oberoesterreich.at.
