Through the enchanted garden to a romantic landscape
The tour takes you via the Danube Bike Path from the Danube town of Emmersdorf through the Wachau, a landscape shaped by human hand, and beyond to Krems, a statutory city on the Danube, i.e. it has the authority of both a city and a district. On your ride through the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, you pass through Aggsbach, Spitz and Weissenkirchen, among other towns, before arriving at your destination: Krems, a center of commerce and culture.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Due to construction works on the bridge between Mautern and Stein (the Mauterner Brücke), there will be restrictions for cyclists, starting immediately! We recommend allowing enough time to cross the Danube elsewhere.
On leaving Emmersdorf you find out why the Wachau is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape in an impressive way: You can see mighty cliffs arise out of steep forested slopes, vineyards gently curving their way through the landscape, waves of the Danube playing on sandy beaches, ruins full of history, old villages and hospitable inns lining your way.
In the ancient village of Aggsbach you have an excellent view to the ruins of Aggstein Fortress on the other side of the river. Legend has it that terrible robber-knights met their fate in justice here. Willendorf became famous through an important archaeological find: the Venus of Willendorf. This little sculpture of a woman reminds us that this area has been populated for 50,000 years. The sculpture is now displayed in the Museum of Natural History in Vienna.
In Schwallenbach the Middle Ages are kept alive by several historical buildings. Shortly before reaching Spitz, you will spot a bizarre rock formation: the Devil’s Wall. Legend has it that the devil wanted to dam up the water of the Danube with this wall. In Spitz you are enticed to take “culture break” by old winemakers’ houses, 16th c estates, a Late Gothic church, the Hinterhaus ruins and the navigation museum.
You see (stone) rabbits “running” along the roof ridge of the fortified St. Michael’s Church (Weissenkirchen municipality) – they were once allegedly driven up there during a snowy winter. In the local Wachau Museum you can gaze at the elaborate Goldhauben traditional costumes. In Wösendorf, the main attraction is the Late Baroque parish church with its altarpieces by Kremser Schmidt (Martin Johann Schmidt, 1718 – 1801).
Dürnstein is right on the Danube and surrounded by lovely vineyards, wooded slopes and rock formations, It is one of Austria’s most popular holiday destinations. The blue tower of Dürnstein Abbey can be seen far and wide and Richard the Lionhearted was once kept prisoner in the castle (now ruins). Soon after passing by the wine town of Unterloiben, you arrive in Krems, the final destination of this stage.
