Danube Cycle Path Stage 1 North Bank: Passau - Schlögen

From Bavarian Venice to the Giant of the Danube

North or South route – this is the question at the start of your first stage, as you can reach the day's destination on both Danube banks. Regardless of your choice: Before you set off, you have ample opportunity to visit Passau’s sights such as the old town, residence, and St. Stephen's Cathedral (see also E1-S). As soon as you cross the Danube on the Luitpold Bridge, the fortresses Ober- and Niederhaus greet you in farewell from the city of three rivers. Oberhaus, long the seat of the Passau bishops, houses among other things a city and medieval museum.

Tip for culture lovers: Start your cycling route in the baroque town of Schärding with its beautiful Silver Row. From there, you can comfortably reach Passau and the Danube Cycle Path via the Inn Cycle Path.

Very impressive are soon the sunny southern slopes of the Donauleiten nature reserve, home to the delicate alpine violet, the magnificent Turk's cap lily, and the shimmering emerald lizard. Through the village of Erlau you head to Obernzell, where a ceramics museum is housed in the massive castle directly on the river. Your onward journey is accompanied by a view of the mighty keep of Vichtenstein Castle (12th century) on the opposite bank, where the Haugstein (895 m), the highest elevation of the Upper Austrian Sauwald, also towers.

The Nature Experience Center Haus am Strom, shaped by architects like "wave and pebble," welcomes you among other things with a special water elevator. A series of interesting and engaging nature tours introduce you to the fauna and flora of the region. If the view of Engelszell Abbey tempts you for a short visit on the opposite bank (see also E1-S), you can cross the Danube via the Jochenstein power plant.

On the north bank, you soon reach Niederranna (Danube bridge), where a long-established boat builder invites you for a Zille boat trip on the water. Now it is not far until you can either cross by ferry to Schlögen or continue the stage on the north bank with a refreshing ride through the Schlögener Schlinge by Donaubus, the Au-Grafenau cross-river ferry.