Steyregg: Discover the town’s history and Danube floodplains

Steyregg combines a distinctive history with nature experiences along the Danube. Around the town square, town wall and castle, you will encounter traces of the past, while paths through the Danube floodplains, along the bathing lake and through the Reichenbach Valley offer different ways to stay active. This allows you to enjoy varied holiday days combining culture, natural history and active excursions.

Town history around the square, wall and castle

Steyregg was founded and laid out around 1280 with its town square and town wall. This historic basic structure still shapes the town today. Steyregg Castle is located directly above the town centre. Around 1160, the chronicler Bernardus Noricus referred to it as an “old castle – castrum vechium”. The castle was expanded into an events and cultural centre between 2002 and 2004. It includes a knights’ hall and a historically and culturally significant castle chapel.

St. Stephen’s parish church in Steyregg also offers an insight into the town’s long development. It was built around 1300 and dedicated to Saint Stephen. Initially Romanesque, it was expanded in the Gothic style and renovated in the Baroque style by the Jesuits after a fire around 1730. The interior features Baroque furnishings and remarkable frescoes dating from around 1320. Those interested in sacred art and architectural history can include this stop in their stay without limiting the excursion to a single historical period.

Danube floodplains and routes for different day plans

The “Danube Floodplains on the Donausteig” circular route is 7 km long, flat and easy to walk. It follows the Danube through primeval-looking floodplain forests. The starting point is the car park by the tennis courts in Steyregg, next to the medieval town wall. This makes it possible to combine a walk through the river landscape with a look at the town’s historic side. Take the length of the main route into account when planning your day and choose a pace suited to your group.

A different landscape experience awaits you in the Reichenbach Valley. The cultural landscape is characterised by small farms and a colourful mix of fields, meadows and forests. A relatively natural path and a hiking trail run along the stream. The route begins in the monastery village of Pulgarn and follows the stream to its source area in the municipality of Engerwitzdorf. For a holiday catering to different interests, Steyregg therefore offers both a flat route along the Danube and an exploration through a landscape shaped by farming.

Cycling, views and discoveries in natural history

At Pfenningberg, the signposted mountain bike route may be used in compliance with the Austrian Highway Code and the mountain biking rules. In addition, private individuals and local clubs may ride the Pfenningberg trails all year round and free of charge, provided they follow the Fair Play rules. These conditions are just as much a part of planning an active day as deciding whether you would rather go mountain biking or choose a hiking route.

The circular route around Steyregg bathing lake offers two fitness stations and a wonderful view of the lake and the town. The Roman rest area on the Danube Cycle Path in Steyregg explains Roman architectural culture. A fair-faced concrete column commemorates a Roman milestone along the Limes, while a Roman head created by Miguel Horn complements the design. Information about the host municipality, the Danube Cycle Path and the Romans, as well as a 5-metre-long concrete and stone bench, are also part of the designated site.

Practical details are also available for cycling days: at the tennis court car park, the ÖAMTC provides a free self-service bicycle repair station with a hanging device, air pump and hand tools. Minor bicycle defects can be repaired there yourself. The traditional Steyregg town festival takes place every three years and complements the permanently described town and landscape experiences with a recurring tradition.

The right accommodation for your travel plans

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can first base your choice on how you prefer to spend your days. For town history, the town square, town wall, castle and parish church are suitable as a thematic focus. If you would like to include the Danube floodplains or bathing lake, add the routes and viewpoints described there to your selection of holiday activities. For cycling and mountain biking tours, the applicable rules, the starting point at the tennis court car park and your preferred route plan are important considerations.

If you would then like to explore further destinations, you can also choose Sonnberg Im Mühlkreis, Ottenschlag Im Mühlkreis, Herzogsdorf, Sankt Magdalena, Mursberg, Kirchschlag Bei Linz, Dürnberg and Schild.

To the higher-level travel overview: Urfahr-Umgebung.