The Danube Bike Path in Lower Austria is always an impressive experience. It goes along idyllic towpaths with almost a constant view of the mighty silver-blue Danube. It is well worthwhile to set aside extra time to seek out interesting sights along the way. Of course, after your athletic efforts you have your choice of delicious cuisine accompanied by the superb wines of the region. Although the Danube Bike Path is a classic among the cycling routes, life along the mighty river is quite easygoing and leisurely.

DANUBE BIKE PATH WACHAU-NIBELUNGENGAU-KREMS VALLEY
Cycling through the legendary Nibelungengau
Before reaching the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, the Danube first passes through the Nibelungengau on its way through Lower Austria. In the medieval German epic Song of the Nibelungs, Rüdiger von Bechelaren (Pöchlarn) is said to have resided here as liege man of Attila the Hun. That explains the name given to this section of the river. If you are feeling fit, you may want to get off the Danube Bike Path at this point and ascend the hill to Maria Taferl. You will be rewarded with a glorious view of the Danube Valley. The pilgrimage church in this town is also well worth seeing. In Pöchlarn farther along to the east on the Danube Bike Path, you will find the birthplace of Oskar Kokoschka and an exhibition extensively documenting the life and work of this well-known Austrian Expressionist painter.

A tour of the Wachau, a landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List
The Danube Bike Path becomes especially scenic on hitting the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. If you like changing perspectives and riverbanks, there are several ferries for going back and forth across the Danube, especially in the Wachau. The mighty Danube separates the north bank with its lush wine terraces and vineyards from the slopes on the south bank dominated by fruit orchards and forests. The panorama of the picturesque towns of Weissenkirchen, Spitz and Dürnstein is a delightful sight from the south side of the Danube. A visit to the Aggstein fortress ruins is recommended to any cyclists eager for another uphill climb. There is a stunning view of the Danube from the ruins. Other highlights are the Abbey of Melk and the Abbey of Göttweig, dramatically perched at the western and eastern end of the Wachau, respectively. The university town of Krems has become the secret cultural capital of the region in recent years. Its Art Mile features contemporary exhibitions on caricature and the visual arts.

DANUBE BIKE PATH - TULLN DANUBE REGION WAGRAM

Immediately after the Wachau, the Danube Valley broadens out into a wide and open landscape of vineyards edged by the Wagram plateau. This is ideal countryside for cycling. You may want to venture off the well-known Danube Bike Path to explore lesser known routes. A new cycling map fresh off the presses for the Tulln Danube-Wagram area will make it even easier for you to get your bearings. If you want to stop for refreshments along the way, you will find many country inns with excellent fare, sometimes serving award-winning cuisine. Two examples are the inns "Floh" in Langelebarn and "Zum lustigen Bauern" in Zeiselmauer. A great place to sample the Wagram wines is "Weritas Wagram", a modern mix between a regional wine shop and a tavern.

DANUBE BIKE PATH IN AULAND CARNUNTUM
Cycling through fabled worlds
There is another unique natural landscape in store for you on the section of the Danube between Vienna and Bratislava. The National Park Donau-Auen protects the largest undeveloped river wetlands still left in Central Europe and is home to a variety of fauna and flora. It is fun and informative to explore the wetlands on guided hikes, accompanied boat tours, or wagon rides. Other attractions are the baroque estates in the Marchfeld near Engelhartsstetten. At Schloss Hof and Niederweiden, former country estates of Prince Eugene of Savoy and Maria Theresia, you can immerse yourself in the splendors of the baroque age. Or stop by Petronell to visit the Roman City Carnuntum Park for fascinating insights into life in an Ancient Roman city.

Detours off the Danube Bike Path
If you want to explore nearby areas, feel free to leave the Danube Bike Path after Vienna and discover major sights on a bicycle tour. There are bike paths connecting you with interesting spots. To the south of the Danube between the Carnuntum Wine Region, Bruck/Leitha and Hainburg, you can follow the "Roman Tour" or the Wine Tour "Winzer Tour Carnuntum. The latter cuts to the heart of the Carnuntum Wine Region and takes you through cellar-lined rural roads, by wine cellars and along educational trails. On the north bank, between Orth on the Danube and the Marchfeld estates, you have your choice of cycling the Nationalpark Tour Donau-Auen through the wetlands of National Park Donau-Auen or the Castle Tour that takes you from the National Park Center at Orth Castle to Eckartsau Castle and on to Schloss Hof.

You can order the current Danube Bike Path folder and new map of the Tulln Danube-Wagram region or the Römerland Carnuntum region plus Bratislava from the office of Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH.


Press Inquiries:
Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH
Jutta Mucha-Zachar
Schlossgasse 3, A-3620 Spitz an der Donau
Austria Phone: +43 2713 30060-24
Fax: +43 2713 30060-30
e-mail: jutta.mucha-zachar@donau.com 
www.donau.com; www.wachau.at 

Holiday Information:
Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH
Schlossgasse 3, A-3620 Spitz an der Donau
Austria Phone: +43 2713 30060-60
Fax: +43 2713 30060-30
e-mail: urlaub@donau.com
www.donau.com; www.wachau.at