Untermühl

Untermühl is situated in the wooded gorge valley of the upper Danube, where the Große Mühl flows into the Danube. This Danube village combines riverside landscapes, hiking and cycling experiences with an unusually rich and varied history. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Untermühl will find a starting point here for days spent among water, forests, granite and historic traces.

A Danube village with a turbulent history

Untermühl was established around 1200 as a settlement of the ruling lords’ fishermen and fergens, that is, ferrymen, from Neuhaus Castle. For centuries, the village’s location on the Danube shaped life here. Untermühl had a long tradition as a supply point for Danube shipping. Granite transport was also part of the village’s history: Neuhaus granite was loaded here for onward transport by ship.

The construction of the Aschach Danube power station brought about a profound change. Old Untermühl was demolished and flooded in 1964; Untermühl was subsequently rebuilt on raised ground. The history of log driving is even older: In the 18th and 19th centuries, up to 130,000 cubic metres of logs were stacked in Untermühl. At that time, the terminus of the Schwarzenberg log-driving canal was also located at the mouth of the Große Mühl into the Danube.

The village’s history is reflected in the Schlosstaverne in Untermühl, which has been owned by the Ernst family since 1594, and in the Kettenturm. It is considered the only surviving toll tower along the Danube. The Donaublick Kettenturm offers views across the Danube valley, combining a historic destination with a landscape experience.

Hiking and cycling around Untermühl

The Mühltalweg reaches Untermühl at the mouth of the Große Mühl into the Danube. The route is described as an easy hike through the wooded valley of the Große Mühl. For planning your day, this more peaceful character can be contrasted well with a more demanding tour: A hiking trail leads from Untermühl via Steinstiegen and an old road, climbing steeply to Neuhaus Castle, and returns to Untermühl via the Jagersteig.

The village also offers various starting points for cyclists. The R1.08 Danube Granite Circuit begins at the Untermühl landing stage, crosses the mouth of the Große Mühl and then climbs 300 metres in elevation to the plateau of the Mühlviertel granite highlands. In Untermühl, the Mühltal cycle path also offers the option of crossing a missing section by taking the Untermühl–Kaiserhof–Bremsberg longitudinal ferry. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore decide whether hiking, cycling tours or a combination of both should be the focus.

The Danube village, with its landing stage as well as restaurants and ferry services, is a starting point for sports and leisure activities such as hiking, cycling and mountain biking. The “Untermühl” Donausteig starting point is located in the car park in front of the traditional Ernst inn and provides clear guidance for starting a tour.

Experience granite and plan excursions

In the surrounding area, the Granite Adventure World includes a natural stone educational trail. The Hammerhütte, a small museum with film screenings and craft demonstrations, is also part of it. The nearby Feldbahnweg is designed as a half-day tour and provides insights into the world of granite and its transport in the 19th century.

For a trip that appeals to different interests, Untermühl can therefore be planned in many ways: One day can be devoted to the wooded Mühltalweg, another to granite history or a cycling tour with 300 metres of elevation gain. The Granite Beer Circuit begins with Stage 1 in the harbour village of Untermühl and initially leads into the Große Mühltal valley. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house can align their choice of location with this desired rhythm without committing to just one type of holiday.

More village pages for planning your trip

You can also open the following village pages for further searching: Sankt Stefan Am Walde, Auberg, Arnreit, Haslach An Der Mühl, Julbach, Guglwald, Peilstein Im Mühlviertel and Putzleinsdorf.

For the overarching travel overview: Rohrbach.