Schopper & Dom - Culture by the Wayside
Before you set off on this stage along the south bank of the Danube, you should climb up to the "Schlögener Donaublick," 30 minutes above the town of Schlögen. From here you can enjoy a magnificent view of the famous Schlögener Danube Bend. After gaining this overview, you will then get to know the wooded slopes of this river meander, the so-called "Donauleiten," up close by bike.
Natural routes lead you past Inzell and Kaiserau, where soon Neuhaus Castle rises on a rock. Upon reaching the small market municipality of Aschach, you will find a remarkable town center with ancient burgher houses whose facades and courtyards date from Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. In the modern-designed "Schoppermuseum," you will learn interesting and curious facts about the old craft of shipbuilding, and in the old parish church, you can discover the alleged healing powers of the "Danube Cross." Also visit the barrier-free cultural hiking trail in Aschach and learn more about the history of the Danube market.
From Aschach, it is not far to Eferding. The history of this small town, located a bit off the Danube cycle path, goes back to Roman times. Its town square is counted among the most beautiful in Upper Austria, with the burgher houses there preserved almost unchanged since the Middle Ages. Due to its size, the parish church bears the nickname "Eferding Cathedral." It is worth a detour, as is the magnificent Starhemberg Castle with its museums and exhibitions. Tip: anyone wanting to see a ski jumping hill in real life should take a detour to the Hinzenbach ski jumping arena!
Even more culture by the wayside is offered by Wilhering Cistercian Abbey (founded in 1146) with its Rococo church and the Fritz-Fröhlich collection, "Fröhlich meets Sulzer," in the abbey museum. Right after your short visit, the ferry in the Ufer district takes you to the northern bank at Ottensheim, where you can enjoy the last meters of the cycle path to Linz.
