Königsdorfer Boat Builder

Crafts - Traditions

In the village of Niederranna, the family-run Königsdorfer business builds traditional Zillen.

In our fast-paced, “digital” age, it’s rare for a down-to-earth craft to be passed down through a family for nearly 200 years. But in Niederranna, time moves at a pleasantly slower pace. And so it is that the Königsdorfer family has been building the traditional Zillen boats typical of the Danube Valley since 1820. Like his father and many of his ancestors before him, the head of the family, Rudolf Königsdorfer, practices the craft of boatbuilding—as one of the last remaining master boatbuilders on the Danube. And he ensures that, year after year, around 80 handcrafted Zillen leave his workshop. Their shape is a classic, whether they are traditionally rowed or modernly motorized. The flat bottom is what distinguishes the Zille, giving it stability in the water and a shallow draft. In earlier times, boats for the Danube were “caulked”—that is, sealed with moss and hemp. This is the origin of the legend that a good Zille must first sink before it can float. This is because the natural materials actually only sealed the hull once they had swollen in the water. This is no longer the case with modern Zillen. And yet, they still embody much of the old tradition of boatbuilding—200 years of passed-down knowledge.

The Ancient Craft of Zille-Building
The custom-built Zille—look over the Zille builder’s shoulder during a free group tour (10 to 50 people) (duration: 1.5 hours).

Group sizes: 10 to 50 people
Available: Year-round by advance reservation