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:
- culturally interesting
- Circular route
- Board possible
Café Stögmüller in Oberkappel is a traditional coffeehouse that has been synonymous with a cozy atmosphere and delicious specialties for generations. Especially in the summer, it’s the perfect place to stop for a break during a trip through the Mühlviertel and the Danube region. Coffee and tea specialties, homemade cakes and pastries, and fresh baked goods served daily ensure delightful breaks. In this way, the café combines Austrian coffeehouse culture with regional charm and a relaxed atmosphere.
The story of in Neustift im Mühlkreis began decades ago, when Markus Luger's great-grandfather laid the foundation stone with a small inn. Today, it has become a culinary jewel that celebrates the Danube, its fish and the Mühlviertel region in a masterful way. Here, where time seems to pass more slowly, the Luger family welcomes their guests with a warmth that makes you feel that you are not just in a restaurant, but in the heart of a passion that has been lived for four generations.
The Luger family business: that's Markus, his aunts, uncles and his daughter, who together make the business what it is - a place filled with a deep connection to nature and a history that began with a passion for fishing and has been passed down through generations. Markus and his family specialise in one type of fish in particular - Danube fish, which they catch fresh in front of the house. Preparing the fish at Gasthaus Luger requires a special skill: cupping - an almost forgotten technique of fish preparation in which fine, parallel incisions are made in the skin of the fish, allowing spices, marinades or other flavours to penetrate deep into the fish flesh. The range of fish that can be tasted at the restaurant extends from white fish such as aitel, barbel and bream to noble fish such as trout, char, pikeperch and carp. But it's not just fish lovers who get their money's worth at Gasthaus Luger, as the restaurant offers a variety of different dishes ranging from traditional Austrian cuisine - such as the Mühlviertler Bierschnitzel filled with bacon, sheep's cheese and herbs - to vegetarian options and homemade pastries. The cuisine at Gasthaus Luger is characterised by the use of ingredients from the restaurant's own farm and many local producers.
For Markus, the connection to the region is not just a promise, but a way of life that has been built up and strengthened through years of relationships with local farmers and producers. These friendships are reflected in the ingredients, which find their way into the kitchen fresh and of the highest quality every day. A mixture of deep tranquillity and warm hospitality prevails at the inn.
Guests travelling along the Donau cycle path, on the Penzenstein-Runde, the Donaulimes Welterbe-Runde Passau-Schlögen-Passau can look forward not only to fresh dishes, but also to tastings and seasonally changing menus. Here, far away from everyday life, guests will find a place to stop and savour - be it with a freshly caught fish dish or a glass of wine with a view of the passing Danube.
The following tour also leads past the Gasthof Luger fish restaurant:
In summer 2022, a new leisure area was created around the Rannastausee lake for families and guests hungry for exercise. "Fit & Fun am Rannastausee" is a new motor skills and exercise trail comprising 12 motor skills stations. Informative boards explain the individual stations with the associated tasks and variations on the individual pieces of equipment. "Fit & Fun am Rannastausee" enables the improvement of motor skills in combination with lots of fun with new forms of exercise.
Visitors to "Fit & Fun" with little exercise experience are encouraged to exercise via a motivational level. Exercise enthusiasts will enjoy the different, previously unknown range of exercise on offer at the Motorik-Fun Park. The use of the equipment ranges from creative, fun games to playful and targeted training. Motorik-Fun Parks can be used by the whole family on a Sunday outing, by active senior citizens' get-togethers, by sports-oriented school classes as well as by competitive athletes on an individual and targeted basis.
Between the stations, cosy seating and relaxation areas offer time to relax and daydream. The existing Oberkappel Kneipp path is also part of "Fit & Fun am Rannastausee" and can be used positively for your health. There is an access point in each of the communities of Oberkappel, Pfarrkirchen and Neustift, where there are also parking facilities. The trail runs over the dam wall and the Konzinger footbridge.
Stations:
1 Balancing course
2 Power station arms
3 Reservoir surfer
4 Balancing pro
5 Stretch bar
6 Water ski wall
7 Jumping power
8 Monkey bar
9 Wobbly labyrinth
10 2-hand pull
11 Coordination round
12 Brain jogging
"Fit & Fun am Rannastausee" is a project funded by the LEADER programme, initiated by the Neustift guest association and financed by the municipalities and tourism committees of Neustift, Oberkappel and Pfarrkirchen.
A typically Austrian tavern, located right in the center of Pfarrkirchen.
Excellent home-style cooking and the old-fashioned lounge offer a very special ambiance.
We recommend the delicious venison and fish dishes as well as the outdoor restaurant area in the warm season.
There is an direct connection to the hiking trail of the holiday region Donau-Ameisberg.
Restaurant of the local golf club - open to the public
The range of leisure activities is extensive:
Fishing is a big topic in our house in summer. We have our own 4 km long fishing lake. Not only fly fishing is popular with us (distance approx. 1 km), at the following reservoir there are always anglers of all ages.
Hiking & mountain biking in the beautiful hilly landscape of the Mühlviertel, horseback riding, tennis, swimming at the Rannabadesee swimming paradise, etc.
We offer Austrian, down-to-earth food and all kinds of good wines from our rustic wine cellar. Which you can enjoy with our good Mühlviertler delicacies. Fantastic views of Europe's second longest river and the passing ships. Forget your everyday life, enjoy cosiness and tranquillity.
The gentle lapping of the water, the singing of the birds and the sun's rays winking through the leafy canopy. Our guest garden in the green invites you to linger. Our nature shows its best side especially in the Danube valley. Many excursion destinations await you, which you can hike to strengthen yourself.
Cyclists' meeting on the Danube Cycle Path Passau-Vienna.
As a family specialist, we know how complex the needs of our "big" and "small" guests are. Our personal, small hotel offers the right thing for everyone: family-friendly rooms, wellness oasis, adventure playground with fun court, swimming pool, petting zoo. There's always something going on at the hotel's own childcare during the summer months! Find out more about our hiking and seminar offers!
Services | Maintenance & Repair | Spare parts & Accessories
Thank you for visiting...
Once you’ve left the Engelhartszell Monastery on the right bank of the Danube behind you as you travel by boat, Rannariedl Castle comes into view on the wooded, steep slope of the Donauleiten.
Rannariedl Castle was built in the 13th century by the “Falkensteins” and, according to legend, was destroyed and then rebuilt larger and more imposing. The castle has weathered many trials over the centuries: destruction, a siege by the Hussites, and so on.
Over time, the castle was leased or sold by various noble families.
Today, Rannariedl Castle is privately owned and, unfortunately, not open to the public!
When you step into the small workshop of Kurt and his daughter Karina Wöss ’schocolate shop , one thing becomes immediately clear: it smells sweet! The familiar, warm scent of honey and chocolate takes you back to Grandma’s kitchen. If you linger a little longer in the workshop, you’ll not only see extraordinary pralines and chocolates, but you’ll also experience a unique joy: the joy of the art of creating special treats from simple ingredients. Behind every piece lies pride, dedication, and the desire to give people a little moment of pleasure.
In the Danube region—more specifically in Pühret near Neustift—lies the chocolate shop where, since 2016, handcrafted chocolate creations have been produced that are renowned for their quality and creativity. At the heart of the business are the handcrafted chocolate products, available in numerous varieties. Kurt and Karina are particularly proud of their liqueur pralines, which were originally created for the monastery in Engelhartszell. In addition to the liqueur pralines, the Schoko-Laden offers a wide range of nougat and fruit pralines as well as seasonal specialties.
Since early 2023, Karina and Kurt have been running the Schoko-Laden as a joint family business. Kurt Wöss, whose passion began over 20 years ago, has made it his mission to craft exceptional pralines and chocolates. What once began as a small experiment in their home bakery has evolved into a true calling. “Working with chocolate requires time and peace and quiet,” Kurt explains with palpable dedication to his craft. With Karina on board, the company gained a breath of fresh air and a wealth of creative ideas. Originally working in the metalworking industry, she also found her calling at the chocolate shop—her interest in creative work and customer interaction is what fulfills her.
Their close connection to the region is evident in their use of local ingredients: spruce needles from the surrounding forests for the “Forest Chocolate”—which won the Upper Austrian Craftsmanship Award—honey from local beekeepers, and fruit from local farmers. “We make sure everything comes from the region,” Kurt emphasizes. The Wöss family’s personal tribute to the region is particularly evident in their specially created “Elements” pralines, which are meant to symbolize the elements of earth, fire, water, and air.
The chocolate shop is located along the Donausteig trail, making it the perfect stop during a hike. One clear highlight is the chocolate fountain, which delights visitors young and old alike. Kurt fondly recalls all the reactions people have when they see the chocolate fountain for the first time: “It’s not just the children’s eyes that light up—the adults’ do too. Sometimes I wonder who’s having more fun!” These little moments make Kurt and Karina Wöss’s chocolate shop a place that goes far beyond mere indulgence.
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
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- 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
Altitude profile - R1.06 Penzenstein route
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