The Austrian Danube Cycle Tour from Passau to Vienna 2008 | ||
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This is the classic version of this tour, six days cycling and seven nights in hotels. | |
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On this tour you cycle from the German border city of Passau
at the confluence of the Danube with the Inn and the Ilz
via Linz and the monastery at Melk to the capital of Vienna.
Passau is on the southern edge of the Bavarian Forest,
some of the finest country in central Europe. Most of the route is traffic free. The towpath has been mostly tarred over, though some stretches have a packed sand surface. |
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Day 1. Arrive in Passau. If you have arrived by air in Vienna, transfer to the start of the tour at Passau. Day 2. Cycle from Passau, along the north side of what is at first a broad valley and past the Jochenstein Dam to Obernzell and Engelhardtzell. Then the valley narrows, and the day ends by the dramatic Danube Bend at Schlögern (about 25 miles). |
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Day 3. Cycle through what is at first empty countryside to the
Aschach Dam. Continue via Wilhering and the church of 1000 angels into
the fine city of Linz, the capital of Upper Austria (about 37 miles). Day 4. Cycle first to Enns, the oldest town in Austria. Cross the river by ferry to Mauthausen. Continue to Wallsee and then via Perg and Ardagger to Grein, which is approached through a beautiful narrow valley with rocky wooded slopes. There is a fine castle here high above the river (about 40 miles). |
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Day 5. Leave Grein and cycle past the island of Wörth,
and the "Black Wall",and on into the
Niebelungengau to the Habsburg castle at Persenbeug. Finally via
Pöchlarn and to the monastery at Melk. Take the ship to Spitz (about 35 miles). Day 6. Cycle along the north bank into the Wachau, a renowned fruit growing area. Cross to the south bank and cycle through vineyards to Rossatz, where you cross back to the north bank and the fortified town of Dürnstein, where the English King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned. Finally to Traismauer (about 25 miles). |
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Day 7. The final stage starts through more woodland before
reaching the Roman town of Tulln, which now boasts a fine church.
Continue to Greifenstein on the edge of the Vienna Woods (about 36 miles). As much of the way into Vienna, though attractive, is trafficked, we include rail tickets from here into the centre of Vienna. After your overnight in Vienna, transfer to the start of the tour at Passau, or to your starting airport. If you are returning to Passau on a Wednesday, you can usually travel back by river steamer. Please ask for more information. |
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