The German Danube

The first to sections are slightly hilly, then the route follows a more level profile. Some longer sections are also along compressed earthen paths, with some short sections running along forest paths. A few sections of the route are along quiet or quite busy roads. The villages are often located in elevated positions safe from the river floodwaters.

Individual arrival. The Romans considered the spring in the parkland of Castle Fürstenberg to be the start of the Danube. The castle, in the style of the Belle Epoque, is an impressive testimony to Fürstenberg Family’s former significance.

You cycle to Immendingen with the Danube sinkhole, where the river disappears into porous limestone ground for the majority of the year. Instead of flowing into the Black Sea, part of the Danube flows via the Aachtopf, Lake Constance and the Rhine into the North Sea. In Tuttlingen the valley gets narrower.

The river flows between high limestone rocks and you cycle mostly right along the shore. Every once in a while you will spy castles or ruins perched on top of the rocks. In Sigmaringen the historic Hohenzollern Castle awaits you. It is still home to the Hohenzollern family today.

Leisurely you follow the course of the river until shortly after Hundersingen, where you should definitely make a stop at the open-air museum Heuneburg to immerse yourself in the world of the Celts. Shortly before your stage destination Riedlingen, you will pass the Historical Hanging Garden of Neufra. If open, it’s worth a visit!

Passing Zwiefaltendorf Castle, you will reach Obermarchtal Monastery. Via the small town of Munderkingen with its well-preserved half-timbered houses and its parish church of St. Dionysius from the 13th century, you will reach the pretty market town of Ehingen.

Today you cycle through the valley of the Urdonau to Blaubeuren with the famous Blautopf, a strong karst spring and the beginning of a large cave system. Your destination is Ulm with the highest church tower in the world, from which you have a magnificent view. Be sure to also take a tour of the historic fishermen’s quarter. Among other things, you will find here the most crooked hotel in the world.

Today‘s section features a succession of little towns, one prettier than the next. You pedal away from the river to raised ground, safe from flooding. Lauingen is known as the town of towers.

Most of the towns here are away from the river on raised, flood-safe ground. Cycle at a leisurely pace through the Danube meadowland to Donauwörth, situated on the mouth of the Wörnitz. One of the key trade routes between Nuremberg and Augsburg crossed the Danube here.

You cycle along well-established paths through the foothills of the Franconian Alb to Neuburg, where we can recommend taking a stroll through the charming old town or a visit to the castle, towering magnificently over the town. Today‘s destination is Ingolstadt with its old fortifications. It is also where the Bavarian Purity Law for beer was passed over 500 years ago.

You cycle through the Danube floodplains, mostly directly along the river, to Bad Gögging. From here it is only a few kilometers to Abensberg. The small town has a lovely renovated historic old town. You should not miss the beer garden of the Hundertwasser brewery Kuchlbauer!

Along the Abens and then the Danube you cycle to the Weltenburg monastery, where a very special natural spectacle awaits you: the Danube breakthrough, where the Danube has carved its way through a massive Jura rock. But be sure to fortify yourself in the monastery’s beer garden before taking a boat through the Danube breakthrough to Kelheim and from there on to Regensburg.

The Danube curves its way gracefully through the wide expanse of the countryside and you cycle alongside. Take a short break at Walhalla, which King Ludwig I had built, before setting off for today‘s destination at Straubing, the capital of the „Gäuboden“ region. Every year in summer, the popular Gäubodenfest is celebrated here.

Soon after setting off, you reach Bogen, which is famous for the finding of a statue of the pregnant Madonna. Continuing on you go through Pfelling and Mariaposching to finally arrive at the gate to the Bavarian Forest: Deggendorf, Gothic and Baroque characterise the old town.

Today‘s route includes the small historic town of Vilshofen, which you might have heard of in connection with the CSU Chairman, politician Strauss‘ Ash Wednesday speech. You will soon reach your destination of the three-rivers-town and former diocesan town of Passau. Let your tour come to a pleasant end with a walk through the old town.

Individual departure