Kelheim between the Danube Gorge and hop-growing country
Accommodation in Kelheim
Kelheim combines impressive river landscapes with hiking trails, cycling routes and historical discoveries. Two distinct landscapes also meet in the district: the northern part, with Kelheim, Essing and Riedenburg, lies in the Altmühltal Nature Park; the southern part belongs to the Hallertau. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Kelheim, these landscape and cultural highlights can help determine which places interest you most during your stay.
The Danube Gorge and trails through nature
The “Weltenburger Enge, Hirschberg und Altmühlleiten” nature reserve is located in Kelheim and encompasses the unique Danube Gorge. In 2020, the Weltenburger Enge was designated Germany’s first National Natural Monument. The nature reserve has eleven hiking trails. One 13-kilometre hike leads from Essing via the Tatzlwurm, past the Klausen Caves and along the Celtic Wall to the Danube Gorge. These stops give the route a special blend of natural and cultural history. Those interested in pilgrimage routes can also find a stage of the East Bavarian Way of St. James from Kelheim to the Weltenburger Enge.
The Altmühl is also a defining feature of the region. Its gentle current makes it an ideal family river. This may be a useful consideration for families who enjoy spending their holiday by the water when choosing their destinations. You can also explore the river landscape from a different perspective: the Danube Cycle Path passes through Weltenburg and Kelheim. In Kelheim, the Old Town and the Liberation Hall are along the route. Cycling and cultural experiences can therefore both be part of your stay, without having to limit yourself to just one way of exploring.
Cycling and archaeological traces
The Altmühltal Archaeology Park stretches for 39 kilometres and comprises 18 sites between Kelheim, Essing, Riedenburg and Dietfurt. Its sites offer insights spanning the Neanderthals to the Celts. Most are directly along the Altmühltal Cycle Path; the park thus combines an extensive cycling route with archaeological themes. The sites are free of charge and open to the public. When planning your day, it is worth taking the distances between the individual sites into account: the figure of 39 kilometres describes the extent of the park, not the length of any one site.
Culture and history in Kelheim
Kelheim Liberation Hall is a memorial commissioned by King Ludwig I. It commemorates the victorious battles against Napoleon in the Wars of Liberation from 1813 to 1815. This gives a visit a specific connection to that historical period. Prunn Castle offers a different link to literary history: it is known as the place where an original manuscript of the Nibelungenlied was found. Those interested in history can include these themes in their travel plans alongside the archaeological sites and trails through the Altmühltal.
Different landscapes, different highlights
South of the nature park area, the district of Kelheim—with Abensberg, Neustadt an der Donau, Biburg, Rohr i. NB and Mainburg—belongs to the Hallertau. It is considered the world’s largest contiguous hop-growing region. The contrast between the northern Altmühltal and the southern hop-growing landscape helps you explore the region according to your own interests. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore first consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on hiking, cycling, culture or the Hallertau landscape. These different themes can help guide you without prescribing a particular holiday destination or accommodation.
Other places in this destination: Elsendorf, Kelheim, Painten, Riedenburg, Bad Abbach, Abensberg, Saal An Der Donau, Rohr In Niederbayern, Siegenburg, Neustadt An Der Donau, Volkenschwand, Ihrlerstein, Wildenberg, Langquaid, Aiglsbach.
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