Through the enchanted garden of a romantic landscape
The route takes you along the beautiful Danube Cycle Path from Emmersdorf on the Danube, through the Wachau cultural landscape to your destination, the statutory city of Krems on the Danube. Along the way, you pass places such as Aggsbach, Spitz, and Weißenkirchen in the Wachau as you travel through the valley designated by UNESCO as a World and Cultural Heritage site, until you finally reach your destination, the commercial and cultural city of Krems.
ATTENTION:
- Due to construction work on the bridge between Mautern and Stein (Mauterner Bridge), there are now restrictions for cyclists! The cycle path is closed and you must use the road.
- From the end of October 2025 to the beginning of April 2026, the Danube Cycle Path will be closed due to construction work in the centre of Weißenkirchen. A diversion via the path at the Danube has been set up.
As soon as you leave
Emmersdorf, you will vividly experience why UNESCO declared the
Wachau a World Heritage Site: steep forest slopes are crowned with cliffs, vineyards gently arch, Danube waves play on sandy beaches, historic ruins, old villages, and hospitable wine taverns line your path.
From the ancient Aggsbach, you have an excellent view of the Aggstein Castle ruin on the opposite bank, where according to legend, terrible robbers were once brought to justice. The place Willendorf is famous for an archaeological find: the "Venus." The small female figurine (now in the Natural History Museum Vienna) reminds us that the area has been settled for 50,000 years.
In Schwallenbach, some historic buildings keep the Middle Ages alive, and shortly before Spitz, you will see a bizarre rock formation: the Devil's Wall. According to legend, the devil once tried to dam the Danube with it. In Spitz, old miners' houses and manor houses from the 16th century, the late-Gothic parish church, the Hinterhaus ruin, and the Shipping Museum invite you to a cultural rest.
On the ridge of the mighty fortified church of St. Michael (community of Weißenkirchen), hares "run"—legend says a snowy winter once drove them there. The main attraction in the wine tavern village of Wösendorf is the late Baroque parish church with altar paintings by the so-called "Kremser Schmidt" (Martin Johann Schmidt, 1718-1801).
The location on the river, the delightful vineyards, forest slopes, and rock formations around have made Dürnstein one of Austria's most popular travel destinations. The blue tower of Dürnstein Abbey is visible from far away, and in the spacious, scenic castle ruin, King Richard the Lionheart was once held captive. Soon after passing through the wine village of Unterloiben, you reach Krems, the destination of this stage.
