Donausteig Stage 1_S01 Passau - Kasten “Over the Sauwald into the Danube Valley”

This Donausteig stage starts in the triple-river city of Passau. The historic city lies at the confluence of the Inn, Danube, and Ilz rivers in the forest-rich gorge valley of the upper Danube. From the Donausteig starting point we hike through Passau’s New Center and experience the city from its modern side. After crossing the Inn, we go downstream through the historic Inn city. Idyllic alleys testify to a flourishing trade in the former suburb. Later we follow the Inn along its bank. Magnificent views of the splendid old town at the Landspitz opposite remind us of Passau as the prince-bishop’s residence city of the Danube East. At the famous confluence of the three rivers it becomes clear: Passau is a gem with many facets! A little further along the mighty Danube, then we turn into the last outskirts of the city. Shortly after, a road crosses a forest hill into the Haibach valley (border Germany-Austria). There begins the short ascent through the magnificent mixed forest of the Danube slopes up to the Sauwald high plateau. Idyllic forest paths lead us past the popular forest chapel “Maria im Walde”. Arrived at the atmospheric high plateau, a rolling cultural landscape shapes the scenery: extensive forests, lush meadows, well-kept fields, scattered farms, ... pure Sauwald idyll! Now we hike further uphill along beautiful farm roads. Shortly before the town center of Freinberg, the Donausteig turns left and crosses the deep forest trench of the Kräutergrabenbach on forest paths and footpaths. Then we stand again on the rural high plateau. There the Donausteig rest stop “Panorama Blaas” offers us a unique deep view of Passau’s triple-river old town – an incredible highlight! No wonder this is one of the key views of the Donausteig. Afterwards, it goes gently down the gentle valley slope of the Danube slopes into the Danube valley. Mostly on field and forest paths, we finally reach the valley floor. On the forest-fringed alluvial terrace we now accompany the Nibelungenstraße about 2.4 km downstream. First on a side street, then along its bike path. The myth of the legendary Nibelungs involuntarily comes to mind. After the Kösselbach bridge, a beautiful forest path leads us through the steep mixed forest of the Danube slopes up to the rural Sauwald high plateau. Above it continues on a farm road uphill to the rural village of Unteresternberg. In the fields after that, the Donausteig turns left and crosses the forest trench of the Bräunbach. Opposite, we stand again on the rural high plateau. Left here, a detour to the panoramic view “Burg Krämpelstein” offers beautiful views into the Danube valley and the legendary castle Krämpelstein. Our stage, however, continues to the right. In a right curve, it goes uphill through the farming settlement Dietzendorf to the hamlet Hötzmannsdorf. There we turn left and hike along wonderful field paths on a small hill ridge. The Sauwald high plateau presents itself here at its best: a mosaic of fields, nearly endless, traditional farms, the rolling landscape, ... - harmony in perfection. After a left turn, we stand at the Donausteig rest stop “Panoramablick”. Congratulations – this is the summit of this Donausteig stage! The views sweep from here over the deeply carved Danube valley to far into the Bavarian Forest. After a short meadow descent, the Donausteig crosses the forest trench of the Buchetbach from Oberbamberg. In Wollersberg, we stand again on the rural high plateau. The access road now leads uphill in a right curve to the road that brings us left to Hütt. From there it goes down forest paths to Kasten on the Danube. From culture into nature – simply amazing!

Discover the following highlights with the Donausteig diary:

- Passau-the Bavarian Venice

- Donausteig starting point “Passau”

- Ludwigsplatz-The gateway to the city

- Beer, an ancient elixir of life

- In the monastery garden

- The Hindenburg Bridge or the “Fünferlsteg”

- Severinskirche-one of the oldest cult places

- Inn city-Of flourishing trade & floating mills

- ...

Download: Donausteig Diary Stage 1_S01 Passau-Kasten

From the Donausteig starting point “Passau” we follow Bahnhofsstraße eastwards to Ludwigsplatz, then turn right into Dr.-Hans-Kapfinger-Straße continuing to the monastery garden (large park on the left). There, turn left across the Cagnes-sur-Mer promenade and down Augustinergasse to the Inn riverbank. On the Hindenburg footbridge, we cross the Inn into the Inn city. Then turn left, through the Severin gate, then along Lederergasse to Kirchenplatz. A few meters after the square, the Donausteig turns left into Löwengrube-Straße and follows the riverbank on roads and footpaths downstream. After crossing a disused railway track, it continues near the wooded riverbank to a chapel (left of the path). Now over the railway tracks into the settlement. First left and then immediately right to reach Wiener (main) street, which we follow downstream to the next intersection. There, Freinberger Straße leads right over a forest hill into the Haibach valley. After the bridge (border Germany-Austria), left first to house entrances, then beautiful forest paths through the mixed steep forest slopes of the Danube up to the rural Sauwald high plateau. Along the way, we pass the chapel “Maria im Walde”. At the forest edge, turning left we go uphill along farm roads past Unterfreinberg to Freinberg. Shortly before the town center, after a sharp right curve, turn left. Partly forest paths, partly footpaths lead down into the deep forest trench of the Kräutergrabenbach and up the opposite slope. Shortly after, we reach the Donausteig rest stop “Panorama Blaas” (at the parking lot of the Gasthaus Blaas). Then we follow the descending asphalt road straight for about 350 m, then the Donausteig turns right. Over a meadow path, later through the forest, it goes downhill to the farming hamlet Parz. There, we cross the asphalt road and reach the valley floor of the Danube on meadow paths in an S-curve. At the chapel on the asphalt road, turn right. After about 200 m comes the Gasthaus Nibelungenstüberl (Donausteig rest stop). Later we exit at the former Gasthof Farberhof to Nibelungenstraße and follow it about 1 km on the bike path. After the Kösslbach bridge (Höllmühle), briefly follow the road to Esternberg on the right. Then a beautiful forest path leads through the steep mixed forest of the Danube slopes up to the rural Sauwald high plateau. The road changes into a farm road leading uphill to Unteresternberg. In a hollow after the village, the Donausteig turns left at a single house. Soon a forest path leads down into the forest trench of the Bräunbachtal. We cross the road to Esternberg and climb up the opposite slope from the brook. Shortly after the forest edge, we reach the next ridge. Left here, a short detour (about 250 m) downhill allows a beautiful view into the Danube valley (Castle Krämpelstein). However, the Donausteig continues right. In a right curve, the ascending road becomes a farm road and leads past Dietzendorf to Hötzmannsdorf. There, left through the farm. Then we hike on wonderful field paths in a left curve to the Donausteig rest stop “Panoramablick”. A meadow path now leads downhill to Oberbamberg. Here straight across the road (Erbhof Familie Schano) and down a farm road into the forest of the Buchetbachtal. After the brook (house), the Donausteig ascends again until we leave the forest at Wollersberg. Now it goes on a farm road in a right curve past Unterschacher uphill. At the T-junction, turn left on the asphalt road to Hütt. In Hütt, we switch from the Donausteig to the circular route "Fuchsenlochweg" and follow it to the stage destination in Kasten. At Hütt, straight (!) across the meadow to the forest, then forest roads lead down to Kasten. On the asphalt road, continue and reach at the Danube bank on the right the Donausteig starting point “Kasten”.

To help you with orientation, the Donausteig has its own orientation system - the description can be found here .

WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz, Austria
Tel. +43(0)732/7277-800
Fax. +43(0)732/7277-804
info@donausteig.com 

Passau Tourismus e.V.
Bahnhofstr. 36
94032 Passau, Germany
Tel. +49(0)851/955980
Fax: +49(0)851/35107
tourist-info@passaude
www.tourismus.passau.de

Tourism Association Vichtenstein
4091 Vichtenstein 70
Tel.: +43(0)7714/8055
Fax: +43(0)7714/8056
gemeinde@vichtenstein.ooe.gv.at
www.oberoesterreich.at/vichtenstein