R1.11 3-River-Route
4040 Linz
"On the way between river & cultural treasures"
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- Loop
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Cultural/historical value
- Botanical highlights
- Faunistic highlights
Mythical Danube River, Salty Traun River, Iron Enns River – a pleasure bike ride tracing the fascination of the land between these streams. River cycling along the Danube and Traun, the Traun-Danube floodplains European protected area, the Linz cultural skyline, magnificent four-sided courtyards in the Traun-Enns hill ridge area ... and numerous cultural treasures. Final highlight: ferry crossing.
Highlights:
- Danube jewel Mauthausen (magnificent riverside, granite art, Pragstein Castle…)
- Baroque jewel St. Florian Abbey (Bruckner organ, tomb of St. Florian...)
- Roman city Enns (UNESCO World Heritage Museum Lauriacum & Roman lime kilns, 360° panoramic view from the town tower)
- European protected area Traun-Danube floodplains (riparian forest & bird protection on the outskirts of Linz)
A magnificent start is the Danube jewel Mauthausen at the confluence of the Danube and Enns. The magnificent riverside with Pragstein Castle and the charming town center tell of prosperity through tolls, iron, salt, and granite. A Danube highlight! By the legendary Enns River, the precious iron ore from the Styrian Eisenwurzen once reached the Danube. From the Danube bank, you follow the edge of the Danube plain through settlement areas to St. Georgen an der Gusen. Initially on a slightly hilly, moderately trafficked secondary road, after Langenstein mostly on wide bike paths alongside the main road. Shortly before St. Georgen an der Gusen, the return to the mythical river begins. On secondary roads, the landscape becomes more rural. Finally, you cycle enjoyably through primeval riparian forests out to the mighty Danube stream.
Shortly downstream, you cross over the impressive Danube power plant Abwinden-Asten to the other bank. Now begins top-class river cycling: enjoy pedaling along the dike on the legendary Danube bike path towpath upstream. A cooling breeze, ship traffic ... and birdsong. Barely known, on the left in the riparian forests lies the European protected area Traun-Danube floodplains, an important bird paradise. At the Traun mouth, Linz surprises with an almost surreal industrial landscape and reminds of its transformation into a cultural capital. On the wonderful riverbank bike path, you cycle along the legendary Traun River – on which the valuable salt from the Salzkammergut once reached the Danube – continuing to Ebelsberg. Today a district of Linz, Ebelsberg entered world history during Napoleon’s time through its strategically important Traun crossing. Here begins the journey through one of Upper Austria’s most beautiful rural cultural landscapes: gentle rolling hills, fertile fields, traditional scattered orchards, the largest four-sided courtyards in Upper Austria ... the Traun-Enns hill ridge area!
Quiet country roads meander in harmony with the landscape. Gradually rising gently to Wambach, then a short steep hill ridge demands a sweat tribute. The long enjoyable descent to Rohrbach surprises. At the manor-like Jahreszeitenhof (365 windows, 12 gates) in Gemering begins the final hill ridge ascent. After a short forest section, unusual views open at the summit onto the St. Florian Abbey basilica. A short, very steep (!) descent and you stand before the imposing Baroque jewel St. Florian Abbey, a Danube highlight! It is one of Austria’s largest Baroque monasteries: the abbey basilica, the world-famous Bruckner organ, the tombs of St. Florian and music virtuoso Anton Bruckner ... Have fun discovering! Another short, very steep (!) descent and you cycle through the historic town of St. Florian out into the Danube plain.
Through a mosaic of fertile fields, past the remarkable open-air museum Sumerauerhof and other beautiful four-sided courtyards ... you continue almost flat on country roads toward Enns. Between the motorway and city, road traffic briefly increases. Finally, perched on a ridge is the picturesque old town of Enns with its magnificent main square and 60 m high town tower, a Danube highlight! Enns is Austria’s oldest city and prospered through salt trade. Furthermore, in Roman times – then called Lauriacum – it was an important administrative city and legion camp. Tip: the magnificent 360° panoramic view from the town tower makes the multifaceted fascination of Enns clearly tangible! Then you roll down into the new town and cycle through fertile farmland – partly with a photogenic industrial skyline – out of the Danube plain. In the primeval riparian forest, a magnificent view of the historic Danube market Mauthausen completes the experience at the dock of the Donauradfähre. During the crossing, this scenery and the splashing of the water instinctively evoke reflection – a bike tour in the river!
Safety guidelines:This pleasure cycling route leads almost entirely over quiet, asphalted (secondary) roads and bike paths. Only between the motorway and Enns should you expect slightly more traffic over just under 2 km, depending on the time of day. Basic shifting skills are advantageous in the hilly Traun-Enns hill ridge area. In St. Florian, two short, steeper descents require special caution. Please also note the operating times of the Donauradfähre ENNSEGG for the final ferry crossing to Mauthausen. If this is not in operation, you can use the alternative route over the Mauthausen Danube Bridge starting from Enns city center.
https://www.donauregion.at/faehren
Signposting:
To facilitate your orientation, the Danube cycling routes have been marked with a dedicated bike guidance system. This route follows the signage "R1.11 3-River-Route".
Paths covering:
further information:
- Flatly
- Board possible
Public Transit
How to get to the Upper Austrian Danube region?
The fastest way to your destination – by train, bus, car, ship, or plane.
- 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.
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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.
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.
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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:
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If possible, please provide the change in altitude.
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