Discover Alkoven: Trails, the Danube and Culture

Alkoven is a destination for varied days combining hiking trails, connections to the Danube and cultural history. The municipality includes around 4.8 kilometres of the Danube. At the same time, numerous trails offer different ways to experience the landscape actively or to combine individual excursions with historical and educational impressions. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Alkoven can therefore choose the location according to their preferred holiday rhythm: long routes, short discovery trails, cycling connections or cultural visits.

Hiking, Walking and Exploring

Alkoven has 155 kilometres of hiking trails, some of which are also suitable for walking or cycling. For active days, the Bewegungsarena offers a marked network of ten circuits. The routes are between 5.5 and 11.5 kilometres long and are suitable for running, walking and hiking. This makes it possible to adapt your daily plans to different route lengths without having to commit to a single route.

A shorter and particularly vivid option is the 3.5-kilometre Mensch-Wald-Klima themed trail with its Zwergerlweg. Ten information boards are aimed at adults, while a further 26 boards are aimed at children. Dwarf houses and wooden dwarfs designed by Claudia Schlagnitweit invite visitors to explore along the trail. For a trip with children, this trail offers concrete points of connection between exercise, nature-related topics and curious observation. Another unusual activity is hiking golf, with eleven stations made from natural and wooden elements as well as old agricultural equipment.

Routes Connected to the Danube

The 6.7-kilometre Danube Loop runs mostly along unpaved paths. It starts and ends at the Radkovsky Ponds and follows the Innbach directly for 1.2 kilometres. The loop reaches the Danube via the Auwald Bridge. Those planning a manageable tour with a variety of landscape impressions will find a clearly described circular route with a fixed starting and finishing point here.

The Path of Diversity connects the Danube Cycle Path with Hartheim Castle and Institute. Along the route, visitors can discover the alluvial forests of the Danube floodplains and explore stations with interactive tasks. The route can be reached from the Alkoven stop of the Linzer Lokalbahn: after getting off, cross the B129 federal road, turn into Bahnhofstraße and, after around 210 metres, reach Berghamerstraße at a T-junction; this road is already part of the Path of Diversity. The Alkoven Danube Trail circular route also starts and ends in the pond landscape in Alkoven.

Memorial Site, Architectural History and Local History

Hartheim Castle combines architecture with a challenging historical subject. The learning and memorial site, opened in 2003, includes a memorial to the victims of Nazi euthanasia as well as the “Value of Life” exhibition. Hartheim Castle is also regarded as one of Upper Austria’s most important Renaissance buildings. A visit therefore represents a conscious engagement with culture and complements a stay that is not focused solely on experiences in nature.

The Roman Rest Area and the Gothic Alkoven Parish Church provide further historical highlights. The Roman Rest Area consists of a fair-faced concrete column reminiscent of a Roman milestone and bears a Roman head created by Miguel Horn. Information about Alkoven, the Danube Cycle Path and the Romans, as well as a 5-metre-long concrete and stone bench, are also part of this site. The parish church, built around 1470 in the Gothic style, stands in the middle of the cemetery on elevated ground in the centre of Alkoven. Those interested in the history of the area can also connect the Emlinger Holz with the events of 9 November 1626: at that time, imperial troops and mercenaries under General Pappenheim, numbering 8,000 men in total, met 8,500 farmers there; around 3,000 farmers and 3,000 soldiers lost their lives.

Alkoven as a Starting Point for Planning Your Trip

The variety of trails and themes makes it easier to plan a trip with different types of days. You can plan longer hiking or activity circuits, choose a shorter route with children, seek out connections to the Danube or arrange an excursion to Hartheim Castle and other cultural sites. When looking for a holiday apartment in Alkoven, it is therefore worth first defining your personal priorities: active routes, observing nature, cycling connections, child-friendly discoveries or history.

For comparing other destinations for your trip planning, see here: Aschach An Der Donau, Hinzenbach, Hartkirchen, Haibach Ob Der Donau, Sankt Marienkirchen An Der Polsenz, Pupping, Scharten and Fraham.

For the higher-level travel overview: Eferding.