Dillingen an der Donau: Hiking, Water Landscapes and History

Hiking, Cycling and Water Landscapes in the District

The DonAUwald hiking trail runs for just under 60 kilometres through the riparian forests along the Danube, 40 kilometres of which lie in the district of Dillingen. It is the first premium hiking trail in Bavarian Swabia. All five classic stages can be reached conveniently by train, making the journey climate-neutral. If hiking is the main focus of your trip, this rail access is a practical consideration when planning your stages. Check the connections that suit your travel dates before deciding on your excursions.

Cycling trips can also be considered a distinct way to explore the area: the Danube Cycle Path crosses the district from west to east for around 40 kilometres. The Donautal Radelspaß is a separate event, held every two years on a weekend in September, with its main event in the district of Dillingen. Three signposted routes, closed to cars, lead participants on culinary and cultural tours. If you plan to attend the Radelspaß, check the specific event year and dates.

Over many years, gravel extraction along the Danube in the district has created a unique water and lake landscape. It gives the area a different character from the riparian forests along the hiking trail. When planning your trip, you can therefore decide whether you would particularly like to explore the forest paths, the west-to-east cycling route, or the landscape shaped by the river and gravel extraction.

City History and Special Insights into Dillingen

In Dillingen, the City and Prince-Bishopric Museum illustrates the city’s history, from Stone Age artefacts to the recent past. It is housed in two historic buildings at Hafenmarkt: the Lower Abbey House and the Angerer House. The span from early finds to more recent city history gives a visit to the museum a broad historical scope; the two buildings also provide concrete points of reference when visiting the area.

The Studienkirche offers a particular point of interest. Its high altar is one of the few surviving stage altars in Germany. Every year, during the week before Palm Sunday, a space containing scenery and figures opens up behind the lowered altar panel, six metres above the ground. The figures illustrate the stages of Christ’s Passion, from the scourging to the Resurrection. If you would like to see this annual event, ask about the specific opening arrangements before your visit.

Dillingen Castle also reflects several phases of construction: it has elements dating from the Hohenstaufen period and was later extended several times. The seven chapels offer a different perspective. They aim to create a landmark and an architectural feature in the landscape, while continuing the tradition of chapel building through contemporary design. Historic building fabric and a contemporary approach to a building tradition thus sit side by side as distinct cultural themes.

Kneipp Themes Along Two Routes

The Kneipp audio tour offers a flexible, self-guided way to discover important stages in Sebastian Kneipp’s life and some of his water treatments, without time pressure or a tour guide. The two-part Kneipp circular trail is a separate option: nine information steles lead through the historic old town, and four more through the riparian forest. Together, the two options offer different ways to explore the Kneipp theme—one through Kneipp’s life and water treatments, the other through stops in the city and riparian forest. Before your trip, check whether the audio tour app and its signposting are available.

If you would like to combine both, you can take these different focuses into account when planning your days.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Wertingen, Gundelfingen an der Donau, Dillingen an der Donau, Lauingen, Bissingen, Holzheim, Buttenwiesen, Finningen, Bachhagel, Höchstädt.

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