Discover Metten: Gardens, Baroque Library and Cycling Routes
Accommodation in Metten
Metten brings together a distinctive monastery setting, garden spaces, a Baroque library, and routes for cycling and hiking. These varied features make the town appealing to travelers who want to combine culture and outdoor activities in their plans. You can also choose a holiday apartment to suit the kind of trip you have in mind: do you want to focus on the monastery’s history, or use Metten primarily as a starting point for excursions?
Die Benediktinerabtei Metten ist eng mit der Entwicklung des Ortes verbunden.
Photo: DKrieger via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Monastery Gardens and Baroque History
A spacious garden adjoins the Baroque garden area to the south. It is set below ground level by stone seating steps, and local fruit tree varieties have been planted there. The Prelate’s Garden adjoins the monastery grounds to the west. It was created on the site of the abbey’s former hop garden and opened in 2007. The gardens thus bring together different historical references: the former hop garden is part of the Prelate’s Garden’s history, while the Baroque design of the library at Metten Benedictine Abbey was commissioned between 1720 and 1722.
The Baroque library has a clear visitor requirement: it can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Tours take place Tuesday to Saturday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and on Sundays and public holidays at 3 p.m. Before your visit, check the monastery’s current schedule and any periods when tours are not available, as tour times and cancellations may change. This makes it easier to fit a planned cultural visit into the rest of your day.
Outdoor Activities and Natural Swimming Pool
Outdoor activities are another aspect of Metten. The exercise trail at Eichenhain was set up on a green space or playground on the edge of the “Kälberweide” residential area. It includes fitness equipment and rest areas.
During the 2023–2024 project period, the existing outdoor swimming pool run by the municipality of Metten was converted into an inclusive natural swimming pool.
Cycling and Hiking Routes Around Metten
Metten is a starting point for many cycling and hiking routes, including routes away from the Danube. The Via Nova pilgrimage route is one of the long-distance cycling routes that passes through the town. Metten is also listed as a starting point for a cycling and hiking route along the Via Nova through the Bavarian Forest. These different route options can help you decide whether cycling, hiking, or a mix of both should be the main focus of your stay.
The Danube Panorama Trail offers a specific stage to plan: its seventh stage runs from Metten to Deggendorf, following the river throughout. This makes it easy to identify Metten as the starting point and Deggendorf as the stage destination. If you include the route in your plans, check local conditions in advance.
When looking for a holiday apartment in Metten, it helps to first decide what kind of trip you want: would you like to plan a library tour, focus on the gardens and monastery history, or make use of cycling and hiking routes?
Deggendorf as the Wider Travel Destination
The wider Deggendorf travel destination stretches from the heights of the Bavarian Forest, across the Danube landscape and the Isar estuary, to the Gäuboden plain. Elevations range from 200 to 1,150 meters above sea level. Castle ruins also add distinctive features to the landscape: from Natternberg Castle Ruins in Deggendorf, the view extends across the Gäuboden and into the Bavarian Forest; footpaths reach the ruins from three sides. Winzer Castle Ruins are noted for their views of the Danube Valley.
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Back to the wider travel overview: Deggendorf.
