Tête-à-Tête of Culture and Nature
On the seventh stage of the Danube cycle route, long-distance cyclists ride along the beautiful Danube promenade in Vienna. Afterwards, the path runs along the north bank through the idyllic Donau-Auen Nature Park. At Haslau, the Danube is crossed, and the route leads on the south side to Petronell.
For a guided tour through the Klosterneuburg Abbey, founded in the 12th century, you should allow some time. At least to take a look into the abbey's treasure chamber or the four-story cellar complex of Austria's oldest winery. The Klosterneuburg Opera is also worth a visit. From the abbey, it is only a stone's throw to Vienna.
If you don't want to bypass the Danube metropolis over the Nordbrücke, you will soon reach the so-called "Danube Canal" on the south bank, which takes you directly into the Old Town. After freshening up at the cyclist hotel of your choice (see also www.wien.info), nothing stands in the way of an extensive city tour.
Attractions include Schönbrunn with its palace, zoo, palace park, and Gloriette, the Vienna Old Town with St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg (imperial apartments, Sisi Museum, treasure chamber, Spanish Riding School), the Art History Museum, the graphic collection Albertina, and the MuseumsQuartier. Also awaiting you are Belvedere Palace, the Prater with the Giant Ferris Wheel, Art Nouveau, coffee houses, and Heurigen...
If you leave the city on the north bank, you enter the Lobau – a part of the Donau-Auen National Park. This unique habitat for beavers, kingfishers, and even sea eagles is among the largest intact floodplain landscapes in Central Europe. You can learn more at Orth Castle, which you will soon reach after Schönau. This pretty water castle houses the schlossORTH National Park Center (exhibitions, excursions, boat tours, and museumORTH with a noteworthy local history museum). On the castle island, you will find the floodplain experience area including an underwater observation station.
After a ferry crossing over the Danube, you will then arrive at Petronell-Carnuntum. Shortly before reaching the municipality, you pass Austria's largest Roman monument and the region's landmark, the Heidentor, remains of a triumphal monument from the 4th century. Especially worth seeing is the Roman city Carnuntum with an authentically reconstructed Roman district.
