The Danube through Upper Austria: Passau to Melk

Route description

Leave Passau east along the south bank of the Danube on the B130, a quiet riverside road past Engelhartszell with its Trappist abbey. After about 40 km you reach Schlögen, where the river turns back on itself in a tight loop. Park by the river and walk up to the Schlögener Blick viewpoint. In season, small passenger ferries for walkers and cyclists cross the river at the loop.

Continue downriver to Linz, about 50 km, a city of steel, music and new museums on both banks. The Pöstlingberg tram climbs to a pilgrimage church with a view over the city. South of Linz, St. Florian Abbey is a large baroque monastery where the composer Anton Bruckner is buried beneath the organ he played. Guided tours run several times a day.

East of Linz, the Mauthausen Memorial stands on a hill above the Danube. The camp held about 190,000 prisoners, and around half of them died. Entry is free, and the exhibitions and the granite quarry with its Stairs of Death need at least two hours. Then follow the B3 along the north bank into the Strudengau, where the river narrows between wooded hills to the small town of Grein.

From Grein the B3 continues past the Persenbeug power station to Maria Taferl, whose baroque church looks out over the valley. Cross the river to Melk, about 45 km from Grein. Its golden abbey on the rock is the gateway to the Wachau. The B3 and B130 are toll-free and fine for motorhomes. The Danube Cycle Path follows the whole route and is busy from May to September.