R1.07 Mühlviertel Cathedral circuit

Description:
Fantastic summit cycle tour from the Upper Danube, a European conservation area, to take in the  panoramic views at the village parish church in Mühlkreis (840 m), the highest point of all the Danube cycle circuits! The reward: breath-taking views into the distance all the way to the Alps,a pleasure-filled descent through Mühlviertel's agricultural land, past Mühlviertel Cathedral, .... Final highlight: boat trip through Schlögener Donauschlinge loops. 

 

Highlights:

• Parish church in Mühlkreis (highest point of all the Danube Cycle Path sections, panoramic view point)


• Mühlviertel Cathedral/ Niederkappel (tallest edifice in Mühlviertel)


• Ferry ride through the Schlögener Donauschlinge

ATTENTION: from October NO return possibility with the longitudinal ferry from Grafenau to Au!

Directions:
Situated in a deep gorge in the Upper Danube Valley – at the point where the Ranna meets the Danube – is secluded Rannamühl, the starting point for this fantastic summit cycle tour. To start with you warm up with a cycle downstream along the wide Danube river on peaceful side roads. Around 1.7 km after Niederranna the 550 metre summit climb starts! The first third proceeds in serpentines in the shady mixed woodland area through the steep flanks of the Donauengtal. At mysterious Marsbach Castle, at one time a feared lair for robber barons, the hardest section is over. Continue to climb through the narrow Marsbachgraben, when the landscape then opens up – a feeling of elation provides a welcome sense of achievement. Now lush pastures, fertile fields, scattered farming hamlets, little areas of woodland provide inspiration...  - A pure rural idyll in Mühlviertel! Proceed up to ridge terrain in Emmerstorf via favourable agricultural roads. It is here that those first views to the village of Hofkirchen, in the centre of an undulating high plateau, open up.  What first springs to mind – a hidden paradise. The relaxing ride with easy undulating sections to the village helps you recover. In the lovely centre of the village the large parish church, houses, the village fountain, pillories ... recount a long history in the market square. Highlight: the plant labyrinth just above the town. An old energy-filled space which took centre-stage with its symbolism and which inspires with its sublime views!   Via a country lane the route proceeds – somewhat more steeply – up to the next balcony section. There you enjoy a relaxing ride on rural roads to Hamet. The final ride proceeds through a traditional area of mixed mountain woodland, providing a panoramic view to the village parish church. At the edge of the woodland above the parish church is the 'Gipfel' - a fantastic panoramic viewing point (840 m).  Congratulations, you are now at the highest point of all the Danube Cycle Path sections! Superb views down below enable you to get a sense of the elevation and enjoy dreamy Alpine views which seem to go on forever. Simply legendary! Another reward: 2.4 km of pure descending fun – intoxicating speed through natural mountain woodland!  After Falkenstein Landesstraße, an agricultural road proceeds via a gentle forest ridge. An extensive, truncated high plateau surprises with hidden troughs. Lush pastures, fertile fields, little areas of woodland, traditional farming hamlets ...  –  A pure rural idyll in Mühlviertel The short descent to Harrau follows a brief ascent back up the gentle ridge. A 3.4 km pleasure-filled, harmonious descent now begins into the lovely rural village of Niederkappel. This is the location of the cultural highlight of the circuit: Mühlviertel Cathedral, the tallest edifice in Mühlviertel! A speedy descent into Daglesbach Graben on a counter slope is the final long downhill. Ride at a leisurely pace in a low gear through the secluded farmland, right up to Ritzersdorf. Congratulations, from now on it is all downhill! The next stop is  the historic market town of Lembach. It is worth taking a detour here too to see the lovely market square. Now you are in for a treat – 6.2 km fun descending – through the shaded mixed woodland area of the Kleine MühlTal down to the Danube Gorge! From Obermühl, enjoy a leisurely cycle along the expanse of the Danube – via the agricultural alluvial terrace in Grafenau – upstream to the ferry pier. The final highlight: the trip on the Danube ferry right through the famous natural wonder that is 'Schlögener Donauschlinge'! The strong currents change their direction of flow twice here by almost 180°, over just a few kilometres. The ferry docks a few metres up from Au. Pedal along this mysterious river for the final few kilometres. A superb summit cycle tour providing a cinematic landscape experience  – on land and on the water!

Safety guidelines:
The main section of this superb cycle route uses tranquil, asphalt (side) roads. Between Hofkirchen and Hamet there is a 1.3 km section via a steeper agricultural road! Basic command of gears is necessary for the long climb sections. Basic braking technique is necessary for the long descent. Not suitable for traditional style road  bikes (note: 'steep dirt track').

Please pay attention to the timetable for the ferry through the Schlögener Donauschlinge. No land-based alternative is available to bridge this gap!

 

Signage:

To make orientation easier, the Danube Cycle Path has been signposted with its own cycle guidance system. This circuit follows the "R1.07 Mühlviertler Dom-Runde" signposts.