Danube Limes World Heritage Round: Stage 2 Schlögen-Passau

Description:
Stage 2 of this enjoyable river cycling tour in search of the fascination of the UNESCO World Heritage Danube Limes takes you upstream on the outside of the Danube Limes – in the land of the Barbarians – back to Passau. After a grand view of the natural wonder of the Schlögener Danube Loop and an authentic Danube crossing with a bike ferry, you will be delighted by idyllic river cycling along rare slope and gorge forests. Thoughts of the eternal forests of the free Germans in Roman times are bound to arise. Every border has two sides!

 

Highlights:

• Natural wonder Schlögener Danube Loop (viewing platform & Danube ferry crossing)


• Upper Danube Gorge (Rare slope and gorge forests = primeval forest of the free Germans)


• Obernzell (Graphite – the black gold)


• Old Town Peninsula Passau (Fortress city Batavis + Roman port)

Directions:
The famous natural wonder Schlégen Donauschlinge is the grandiose prelude to this stage. The Danube lies here in the long breakthrough section of the Upper Danube Valley and within a few kilometers changes its flow direction twice by almost 180. After spending the night “in” the castle on the banks of the Danube, a short hike up to the observation platform “Schlégen Donaublick” is recommended: Only the low view opens the fascination of this natural spectacle – simply fabulous! Tip: Enjoy the landscape cinema early in the morning, then have breakfast (total walking time 1h)! Now the bike tour can begin. Like once Roman scout troop we cross the mighty Danube River by (bike) ferry. Today the waters are tame, once they were feared. Once on the north bank we stand beyond the protective Danube – in the land of the barbarians!

Now follows idyllic pleasure river cycling at its finest: The steep valley flanks inspire with wonderful mixed forests - the last large hillside and ravine (ur) forests of Central Europe. Secluded, well-paved side roads follow the wide Danube band. And hardly any houses. An intense river-nature experience and a feeling of seclusion ensue. Here you can feel a little how the Romans perceived the land of the "barbarians". Thus the Roman historian Publius Cornelius Tacitus (1st century) described the land of the free Germans as "... either horrifying by forests or horrifying by its marshes ... " The background: The Romans' Mediterranean homeland had been cultivated for centuries. Thus, large forests caused them discomfort. The free Germans, on the other hand, felt comfortable in the vast primeval forests. They were by no means cultureless barbarians. There was no single people, but countless different tribes, which settled and lived very differently, resulting in a rich culture, but this was fundamentally different from the Roman one.

At the Zillenhafen in Freizell, a Roman rest stop offers an insight into Roman military shipping. Fitting, because one of the last Zillen builders in Austria is located next door. Zillen are very flat wooden boats, which were already used in similar form in Roman times. Tip: Here is the rare opportunity to rent such a motorized Zillen without a boat license!

Starting at the Jochenstein power station, we continue along the lightly traveled Donauuferstrasse to the wonderful Obernzell market. (water) castle, historic market place, butcher’s shop, ... a real Bavarian gem! Nearby, rare graphite is mined. Ceramics can be made especially fireproof by this addition, but also get a characteristic black coloration. Celts and Romans knew these deposits and traded with this black tableware. Graphite – the black gold! The bike runs loosely on a separate cycle path along the now well frequented Donauuferstrasse and follows the meanders of the Donau Valley. The forest flanks become lower. At the rest area "Donau-Nixe" opens a last look back into the natural gorge of the Upper Donau Valley. The environment becomes more urban.

The view of the confluence of the three rivers Passau from this side is the final highlight: the rivers, the magnificent Old Town Peninsula, the Veste Oberhaus, ... – simply fabulous! First we cross the black Ilz. The Prince Regent-Luitpold bridge takes us from the land of the barbarians across the wide Danube stream back to the Roman Empire. Immediately after the bridge, the Roman Square reminds us of the castle on the Old Town Peninsula. The associated Danube port was located at the level of the magnificent Town Hall Square (clearly recognizable by the ensemble of buildings: old customs office, old town hall with tower and new town hall). At the central station our discovery bike tour ends in search of the fascination of the UNESCO World Heritage Danube.

Safety guidelines:
Signage:

In order to facilitate your orientation, this themed cycle path has been marked with its own cycle guidance system. In the application there are adaptations for the Bavarian and Upper Austrian cycle guidance system.

 

Special note:

Attention! Border crossing Upper Austria – Bavaria near Passau. Do not forget your passport!