show as PDF - Donau Oberösterreich

© ARGE Straße der Kaiser und Könige
© Gisela Müller
© Bratislava Tourist Board
© WienTourismus / Christian Stemper
© Linztourismus / J.Steininger
© Passau Tourismus e.V.
© Regensburg Tourismus
Tourist Info Bratislava
Klobučnícka 2, 811 01 Bratislava, Tel.: +421 / 2 / 161 86
www.visitbratislava.eu, [email protected]
Mon – Sun: 09.00–18.00
Regensburg – UNESCO World Heritage Site
Located at the northernmost point of the Danube, Regensburg can look
back on a history of over 2,000 years. Finds show that the city was already
settled in the Stone Age. In 179 A.D. the Romans founded the legion camp
„Castra Regina“, the camp by the River Regen. In the Middle Ages, the city
became a significant trade metropolis as a result of its location on one of
the most important trade routes to the East. In 1245 Regensburg became
a free imperial city and extremely wealthy through the trade with faraway
countries. In 1663 the Perpetual Diet was convened for the first time and
was not ended until 1806, with Napoleon‘s conquest and the dissolution of
the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.
Today, splendid buildings in the Old Town still testify to the city‘s wealth
and political influence in the Middle Ages and make it the best-preserved
medieval city in Germany. In 2006, Regensburg‘s Old Town and the „Stadtamhof“ district were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Stone Bridge, built in the 12th century, the Cathedral, the only example of French Gothic in Bavaria, and Schloss Thurn und Taxis are particularly worth seeing. The historical houses, together with cosy street cafés and shops, shape the unique atmosphere of the pulsating Old Town
and through this combination, give Regensburg the title of Germany‘s
medieval wonder.
Passau
Passau lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz and borders directly
with Upper Austria. For six hundred years, the city of three rivers was an episcopal principality. After a town fire, Italian architects created the baroque
backdrop of the Old Town in the 17th century. High towers and picturesque
squares still shape the city‘s image. Winding lanes and romantic promenades on the banks of the river tempt you to take a walk through history.
In the middle of the Old Town, three-domed St. Stephen‘s Cathedral rises up
majestically, in which the largest cathedral organ in the world can be heard.
Nearby, there are numerous sights, such as the New Bishop‘s Residence, the
historical town hall, many churches and museums, and a former abbey. The
beautiful Prince-Bishop Opera House on the Inn Bridge is a unique early
classical building.
High above the rivers towers the Veste Oberhaus, one of the largest
preserved fortresses in Europe, and the pilgrimage church of Mariahilf.
Various city walking tours and the three-river boat tour allow you to experience the special magic of the city. In Passau, national and international
long-distance cycling paths cross, and the city is also one of the arrival and
departure points for Danube cruises to the Black Sea. With its charm and
atmosphere, Passau is one of the most beautiful and impressive Bavarian
cities on the Danube.
Linz
The European Capital of Culture 2009 looks back on an eventful history, and
also towards the future. The baroque Hauptplatz is located next to very modern cultural buildings and will surprise you with its contrasts.
As a result of its location right by the Danube, Linz has a special relationship
with Europe‘s largest waterway. For example, the city received its Roman
and Celtic names Lentia and Lentos from the bend of the river.
Here, it changes its direction, just as the city is changing, and aims to change
its visitors. Alongside a distinctive cultural scene, the unique city is also well
known for its natural richness and extraordinary technological and architectural history.
The cultural life is shaped by numerous theatres, the premium-class Bruckner Orchester, Europe‘s most modern opera house, many festivals, and exciting museums. Above the city towers the Linzer Schloss, which displays
Upper Austrian technological and natural history, and special exhibitions.
The Lentos Kunstmuseum presents discerning modern art and the Ars
Electronica Center leads you into tomorrow‘s world. Forum metall displays
the industrial side of the city: steel sculptures of world standing in the
Donaupark. Above Pöstlingberg, with its pilgrimage church, is the Donausteig hiking trail. From here, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city and
the Danube.
Vienna
Vienna owes its appeal among tourists to the exciting combination of a nostalgic, imperial atmosphere and a highly creative cultural scene, which both
offers the most current trends and assures the responsible preservation of a
precious heritage and charming traditions.
The architecture of the Dual Monarchy shapes the city‘s impressive image.
Grand baroque buildings, Historicism („Ringstraße style“) and Art Nouveau,
and the spacious urban structure make you forget that this is the capital
of the Republic of Austria, a country with a population of only 8.4 million,
and delight visitors in the romantic imperial city. It is not only the many
buildings from the imperial era that make Vienna a city of beauty and art:
Museums, collections, and world-class artwork can be seen here. These include the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Belvedere, the Albertina, and the
Leopold Museum in the Museumsquartier.
In addition, sights such as St. Stephen‘s Cathedral, the Hofburg, and Schönbrunn Palace tempt you to explore the city. Above all, Vienna also enjoys
an international reputation as a city of music. In no other place in the world
have so many composers of world standing lived.
In addition to those who were born here, such as Schubert, Strauss, and
Schönberg, Vienna was also once the home city of choice of Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms.
Bratislava
Situated at the point where three cultures meet, archaeological finds from a
Celtic settlement and a Roman fort are proof of the important intersection
of trade routes and the strategical significance of the city as part of the limes
romanus.
The names of the Danube metropolis still testify to its eventful history: Whereas the Slovaks call their capital Bratislava, the city is called Pressburg in
Austria. In addition, Bratislava was the capital of Hungary (1536-1783) during the Turkish siege of Budapest and is still called Pozsony in Hungarian.
In St. Martin‘s Cathedral, ten Austro-Hungarian kings were once crowned,
including Maria Theresa in 1741. You can still sense the past at every turn
on a tour of the Old Town. Everywhere, fashionable cafés and restaurants
with the famous, hearty Slovakian cuisine and excellent Slovakian wines will
tempt you. Since 2010, the shopping and business centre River Park and Eurovea have connected the Old Town with the banks of the Danube. Futuristic architecture, spacious green areas, and numerous pubs and restaurants
with a view of the Danube embody „urban city life“ in a way you would not
have believed possible of a city that lay behind the Iron Curtain until 1989.
In the centre of the metropolis is the arrival and departure point of the „Twin
City Liner“, a high-speed catamaran that connects Vienna and Bratislava in
just 75 minutes via the Danube.
Budapest
A metropolis of millions, and a cultural and spa city, Budapest enchants its
visitors in an almost magical way. It‘s not for nothing that the Hungarian
capital is called the „Pearl of the Danube“: In 1873 both historical parts of the
city, Buda and Pest, were unified with Old Buda to form today‘s Budapest.
Buda describes the hilly district west of the Danube, and Pest the flat district to the east. The city will captivate you with its imperial-era charm and a
unique city image with numerous sights.
The historical Castle Quarter, a World Heritage Site that includes the
Fisherman‘s Bastion, is a must-see. Culture lovers should not miss a visit to
the Hungarian State Opera House, built in 1875 in the neo-Renaissance style. With the Jewish Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, the Opera House, and the old
metro, Budapest will attract you with another part of the World Heritage
Site. The Palace of Arts, whose Bartók Hall is famous for its excellent acoustics, is a jewel of modern architecture. With 120 thermal springs and baths
from the times of the Turks and the great economic upswing, Budapest is
also a popular spa destination. In addition, the unique location, the wonderful panorama from Gellért Hill, the architecture of the Belle Époque, the
monuments from Roman and Turkish times, the Zoo (a listed building), the
largest synagogue in Europe, and the many festivals make Budapest exceptional in Europa.
© WGD Tourismus GmbH / Weissenbrunner
© Steve Haider
© Bratislava Tourist Board
© Ungarisches Tourismusamt
© Schloss Artstetten, NÖ
Tourinform Budapest
Sütő utca 2, 1052 Budapest, Tel.: +36 /1 / 4388080
www.budapestinfo.hu, [email protected]
Mon – Sun: 8.00–18.00
© Stadt Bogen
Tourist-Info Wien
Albertinaplatz / Ecke Maysedergasse, 1010 Wien
Tel.: +43 / 1 / 24 555, www.vienna.info, [email protected]
Daily open from 09.00–19.00
than
If the order is greater
t register
25 Euro when you firs
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© Schloß Schönbrunn / L. Lammerhuber
© Schloß Schönbrunn / Alexander E. Koller
© Bundesimobilienverwaltung / L. Lammerhuber
© Burg Clam
Schönbrunn Palace
As a World Heritage Site and Austria‘s most visited sight, Schönbrunn Palace
is known around the world as the symbol of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The baroque artistic synthesis of the Palace and Gardens is mostly
displayed in the original historical state.
Along with a tour of the authentically furnished living and state rooms
of the imperial family in the Palace, the Gardens also offer visitors numerous attractions. From the Maze to the Gloriette and the famous Zoo,
to its own Children‘s Museum, the site invites you to take extensive
exploration tours.
In the Palace, 40 rooms are open to visitors. The tour begins with the living
rooms of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, dating from the
19th century, and leads through the magnificent state rooms in the middle
section to Maria Theresa‘s splendid apartments from the 18th century. On
request, the garden apartments on the ground floor with their exotic murals from Maria Theresa‘s time can also be visited. The Children‘s Museum
was established so that children can understand life in imperial times in a
hands-on way.
A walk up the zigzag paths to the café in the historical Gloriette rounds off a
visit to the Palace perfectly.
Artstetten Castle
The former family seat and summer residence of the imperial family, Artstetten Castle lies in a wonderful park. Even from a distance, visitors are
greeted by the charming architecture of the building from the 13th century, with its seven characteristic towers. The Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Museum is a major cultural and historical attraction, in which year after
year, guests from all over the world follow the trail of one of the most
fascinating personalities of the waning Dual Monarchy. The permanent
exhibition „For Heart and Crown“ provides exciting insights into the life
and work of the heir to the throne. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was not
only a political reformer and progressive thinker of his time. He was also
known as a collector and architect, as well as a loving husband and father. He and his wife Sophie, Duchess von Hohenberg, found their last
resting place in the family crypt after their assassination in 1914 in Sarajevo. Also thoroughly recommended is a walk through the private castle park, one of the most important historical parks in Austria. Through
Franz I, the „flower emperor“, the park gained importance for the first
time from 1823. Today, the park is very attractive, with impressive, ancient trees, the bathing pavilion of Archduke Carl Ludwig, the two „Spitting
Men“, and the Peony Paradise (in May and June).
Reduced admission fee if this article is shown.
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events
Donau Niederösterreich
August to
September
The Imperial Furniture Collection, Vienna
Originally founded by Empress Maria Theresa as the Habsburgs‘ furniture
depository in the strategically favourable location on Mariahilfer Straße,
the museum is today one of the largest and most significant furniture collections in the world, with around 5,000 exhibits and its unique mixture of
functions as a store, workshop, administrative body, and museum, as can
be found nowhere else. Furniture culture from more than three centuries
is displayed. The collection ranges from a presentation of imperial furniture
to the most varied furnishing styles such as Biedermeier, Historicism, and
Viennese Modernism, to contemporary Austrian furniture design of the
21st century.
Temporary special exhibitions are dedicated to the achievements in
architecture, design, and furniture of the 20th century, as well as to famous
Habsburgs. The special Sis(s)i Path is unique, and leads you through the
museum on the trail of Ernst Marischka‘s famous Sisi films. Until the 1970s,
the Imperial Furniture Museum was an important supplier of furnishings
for many films shot in Vienna. Whether these had an imperial or bourgeois
atmosphere, good use was made of the wealth of furniture in the museum.
Throughout the whole museum, you‘ll encounter rooms with reconstructed scenes from Sisi films in various languages time and again, and will find
furniture that lent the films an imperial character.
Burgmuseum Clam
Burg Clam bei Grein, Sperken 1, 4352 Klam
Tel.: +43 / 7269 / 7217-0, www.burgclam.com
1st May – 31st October, daily open from 10.00–16.30
Clam Castle
This unique destination is not a conventional museum, but rather an inhabited medieval castle. It was once in the possession of feared robber barons,
and its art treasures can be admired today by visitors in their original historical place: the armoury full of suits of armour, the banquet table decked
out with fine china, and the Gothic chapel with sacred woodcarving. Even
the private residential rooms of the Counts of Clam, who have lived in and
preserved the castle for 600 years, can be visited.
Publisher
Grebennikov Verlag GmbH
Immanuelkirchstr. 5
10405 Berlin
Tel.: +49.(0)30 895 681 95
www.grebennikoff.de
First edition March 2014
Ads: [email protected]
Tourismusverband Ostbayern
Grafenegg Festival
www.grafenegg.com
Whit Monday
Bogen
Pfingstkerzenwallfahrt auf dem Bogenberg, www.bogen.de
Easter holidays
Wachau
Osterreigen Wachau
www.wachau.at
Third weekend
in July
Straubing
bluetone - Das Festival an der Donau,
www.straubing.de
March to April
Wachau
Wachau GOURMETfestival
www.wachau-gourmet.festival.at
After the second
Friday in August
Straubing
Gäubodenvolksfest mit Ostbayernschau
www.straubing.de
Marillenkirtag in Spitz
www.spitz-wachau.com
Second Saturday
in November
Kelheim
Maidult
Februar to March
Mohács
July
Hofmobiliendepot ∙ Möbel Museum Wien
Andreasgasse 7, A-1070 Wien, Tel. :+43 / 1 / 524 33 57-0
[email protected], www.hofmobiliendepot.at
Tue – Sun: 10.00–18.00, U3 station Zieglergasse
Grafenegg
Spitz
Passau Tourismus e.V.
End of April
Kohlbruck
Ungarisches Tourismusamt
Buschoumzug
First Sunday in May
Passau
Trachtenfestzug in der Altstadt
www.passauer-dult.de
March to April
Budapest
Budapester Frühlingsfestival
www.budapesterspringfestival.com
Beginning of May
Passau
Orgelkonzert auf der größten Domorgel
im Dom St. Stephan
June
Budapest
Wagner Tage im Palast der Künste
www.mupa.hu/en/wagner-2014
June to July
Passau
Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau
www.ew-passau.de
August
Budapest
Szigetfestival, www.szigetfest.de
WienTourismus
May
Donau Oberösterreich
Passau-Schlögen
Rad total im Donautal, www.radtotal.at
Wien
Wiener Festwochen
End of June
Wien
Donauinselfest
Distribution through bookstores,
tourist attractions and tourist information centres along the route. With
the friendly support and cooperation
of: ARGE Route of Emperors and Kings
September to Oct.
Wien
Wiener Wiesn-Fest
November to Dez.
Wien
Vienna Christmasmarkets
© Copyright 2013 by Alexander
Pentecost
Regensburg
Tage Alter Musik
May
Linz
LinzFest, www.linzfest.at
July
Regensburg
Thurn und Taxis Schlossfestspiele
Konzerte und Schauspiel im Schlosshof
July
Linz
Pflasterspektakel, www.pflasterspektakel.at
End of August
Regensburg
Herbstdult
September
Linz
Ars Electronica Festival, www.aec.at
November to Dez.
Regensburg
Christmasmarkets
September
Linz
voestalpine Clouds of Sound
www.klangwolke.at
Printed by: Spree Druck Berlin GmbH
Route of
Emperors and Kings
Feuer&Flamme an Donau&Altmühl
www.schifffahrt-kelheim.de
May to June
Grebennikov. All rights reserved –
reproduction only with express
permission of the publisher
soon online
Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, Silver Collection
The Vienna Hofburg formed the centre of the Habsburg Empire for several
centuries. Three museums provide historically authentic insights into the
Habsburgs‘ courtly traditions and everyday life today.
The Silver Collection on the ground floor displays an impressively wideranging collection of the imperial dinner service, and demonstrates courtly
dining culture. The intimate presentation in the Sisi Museum, which was
opened in 2004 for the 150th anniversary of the imperial couple and celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2014, gives detailed insights into very personal
aspects of the Empress and does away with many myths surrounding her.
The more than 300 exhibited objects in the museum include the original
assassination file, a copy of part of her luxurious Court Salon Carriage, and
the reconstructed Hungarian coronation dress.
In the authentically furnished Imperial Apartments, Emperor Franz Joseph
and Empress Elisabeth once lived and worked. The furnishings of the
private chambers reflect Franz Joseph‘s modesty, and convey imperial
splendour without extravagant pomp. Highlights of the tour, in addition
to the study, in which Franz Joseph surrounded himself with numerous
pictures and mementoes of family members, are the dressing-cum-exercise
room of the beauty-conscious Sisi, and the banqueting hall with a table
decked out with original tableware.
Schloß Schönbrunn, A-1130 Wien
Tel. :+43 / 1 / 811 13-0, [email protected], www.schoenbrunn.at
Daily open from 08.30. Closing times vary depending on the time of year.
Information available at www.schoenbrunn.at
Hungary
On entering Hungary, the most scenic part of the Hungarian Danube opens
up with the Danube Bend between Esztergom and Szendtendre. The walls
of the former castle, Esztergom Basilica, and the awe-inspiring silhouette of
the small town tower over the right bank of the Danube. The small town of
Szentendre, with its Mediterranean atmosphere, is very popular with both
artists and tourists. The town of Mohács is situated on the lower reaches of
the Danube, which is primarily famous for the „Busójárás“, a custom where
winter is buried and spring is greeted.
In Budapest, the capital of Hungary, the river separates the two parts of the
city, Buda and Pest. The only spa capital in the world has a beautiful location
and offers numerous sights, such as the Castle Quarter with the Danube Panorama and Andrássy Avenue, all part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site,
and the Parliament Building, St. Stephan‘s Basilica, the Millennium Monument on Heroes‘ Square, the City Park with Vajdahunyad Castle, Margaret
Island, and much more. The Palace of Arts, the Opera House, and the Academy of Music offer music lovers unforgettable experiences.
The Danube also formed the limes of the Roman Empire in Hungary. Along
the approx. 500 km of the Pannonian limes, there are many small forts,
watchtowers, and legion camps. The former routes for protection and travel
now serve tourism.
Laotse said:
Slovakia
Where the Morava flows into the Danube, the river enters Slovakia and
flows – for a short while as an Austrian-Slovakian border river – to the capital
of the young republic. There, at the foot of Bratislava Castle, the river reaches
the Danubian Flat (Podunajská rovina) and flows eastwards as a SlovakianHungarian border river for 172 kilometres. The Danube only shapes the
landscape of southern Slovakia – and even though its main course appears
short, innumerable branches of the river meander for much longer through
the fertile area.
In this way, Europe‘s largest river island emerged between the Little Danube
and the Danube: Žitný ostrov (Great Rye Island), with a length of 84 km and
a breadth of 15-30 km. Diverse flora and fauna inhabit the unique forest and
grassland area, which also has a special climate: As a result of its location,
exposed to the Little Hungarian Plain, this area is one of the warmest and
driest in Slovakia.
In antiquity, the Danube was already an intersection of trade routes, which
is visible in several Slovakian towns along the river: Galanta, Sereď, Komárno
(on the Hungarian side: Komárom), and Nové Zámky alternate with small
nature reserves until the river becomes the Hungarian Danube in marshland near Štúrovo (on the Hungarian side: Esztergom).
„A journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step.“
The Danube in Lower Austria
On its 258 km-long journey through Lower Austria, the Danube creates the
most varied landscapes from the west; from the Nibelungengau, steeped
in history, the river flows into what must be the most charming river valley in Europe: The World Heritage Site of the Wachau is one of the oldest
cultural landscapes in Austria and stretches from Melk to Krems. The area
has cultural treasures and is an internationally renowned winegrowing area
and meeting point for gourmets from all over the world. The neighbouring
Krems valley and the Wagram are also famous for their wines. Here, an impressive loess layer winds through the area, a distinctive symbol north of
the Danube, and offers a sublime view.
Around the four towns of Traismauer, Tulln, Stockerau, and Korneuburg,
stretch the further plains of the Tulln Danube area, whose historical venues
and colourful summer stages will tempt you. From the imperial city of Vienna, the Danube finally flows into the Auland-Carnuntum area, past baroque
Marchfeld palaces, the Archaeological Park Carnuntum, and the DonauAuen National Park. In Lower Austria too, numerous archaeological finds
and remains of the wall testify to the Roman limes: in Mautern, the former
settlement „Favianis“, in Zeiselmauer, formerly „Cannabiaca“ and above all in
the area that is now Petronell, in which the Roman legion camp Carnuntum
was set up around 15 A.D.
Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand-Museum, Schlossplatz 1, 3661 Artstetten
Tel.: +43 / 7413 / 8006-0, www.schloss-artstetten.at
Museum, Castle-park and Family-grave: from 1st April – 1st Nov
museum daily 9.00–17.30, Castle-park daily 9.00–13.00
All journeys start with
WWW.BUCH.TRAVEL
The Danube in Upper Austria
Practically no other region is as varied as the Upper Austrian Danube area.
Numerous, very diverse landscapes stretch from the historical episcopal
city of Passau to the modern cultural city of Linz to Grein, the pearl of the
Strudengau, and offer breathtaking sights and views of a legendarily
beautiful area.
Baroque monasteries and palaces shape the Danube, as do medieval castles and ruins, and scenic, historical towns. With its historical city centre and
charming location by the Danube, Inn, and Ilz, Passau is a real highlight.
Nestled between the „Donauleiten“, towering, forested slopes, the river
makes its way eastwards.
The first distinctive point on the route is the Trappist monastery of Engelszell, particularly famous for its liqueur production. The Schlögener Schlinge
is a breathtaking spectacle of nature. The Danube is forced to take two incredible changes of direction by the prehistoric granite of the Bohemian
Massif, and shows its most stunning side. Through the fertile Eferding Basin,
it then flows past the Cistercian monastery of Wilhering, whose abbey church is one of Austria‘s most magnificent rococo buildings, and then on to
Linz. In the European Capital of Culture 2009, the cultural life pulsates with
the interplay between the modern art and technology museums, a distinctive music scene, and the historical Old Town.
Esztergom, Basilika
EARLYBOOKINGDISCOUN
Bratislava
Dürnstein on the Danube
The German Danube
Between Regensburg and Passau, the Danube becomes a river connecting different peoples in Germany. Under Emperor Augustus, the river was
already significant as a natural border of the Roman Empire, the so-called
„wet limes“. The stretch of land has a wealth of towns and monasteries and
was much shaped by the artwork of the Asam Brothers. Regensburg can
look back on an eventful history of 2,000 years and has been a UNESCO
World Heritage Site since 2006. Thanks to its location on one of the most
important trade routes to the East, Regensburg developed into an imperial city par excellence: Founded by Roman emperors, it was the home of
the powerful Emperor Charles the Great and Frederick Barbarossa, and
received the title of a free imperial city from Emperor Frederick II. Further
down its course, the Danube leads to Straubing, the old ducal city, whose
City Tower, a symbol of the city, offers a wonderful view of Straubing and
the Gäuboden today. The lively city square, magnificent churches, and the
Gäuboden Museum tempt you to take a walk through history. Vilshofen, the
picturesque „small city of three rivers“, is situated at the point where the Vils,
Wolfach, and Pfudrach flow into the Danube, on the southern edge of the
Bavarian Forest. On the pointed headland between the Danube and the Vils,
the narrow Old Town rises directly from the water, like a floating island on
the river. From Passau, the Danube finally leads to Austria.
Kaiserappartements – Sisi Museum – Silberkammer
Hofburg / Innerer Burghof, A-1010 Wien, Tel.: +43 / 1 / 533 75 70
[email protected], www.hofburg-wien.at
Daily open from 09.00–17.30 (July and August until 18.00)
A WORLD OF BOOKS FOR A WORLD OF TRAVEL
Danube loop at Schlögen
Bogen on the Danube
Prunn Castle, Altmühltal
Sat bef Pentec.
Friday after
Corp. Christi
Mid of Aug.
October
Donauregion
Oberösterreich
Haibach ob der
Donau
Regensburg Tourismus GmbH
Donau in Flammen,
www.donauinflammen.at
www.donauschiffahrt.de
24h Wanderung, www.donauregion.at
Tourismusverband Linz
Follow royal footsteps along the Danube
Route Description and Map
Calendar of Events
FREE
Tourist Information Linz, Altes Rathaus, Hauptplatz 1, 4020 Linz
Tel.: +43 / 732 / 7070 2009, www.linztourismus.at/en, [email protected]
May to Sep: Mon – Sat: 09.00–19.00, Sun and holidays: 10.00–19.00
Oct to April: Mon – Sat: 09.00–17.00, Sun and holidays: 10.00–17.00
Tourist-Information Passau, Rathausplatz, 94032 Passau
Tel.: +49 / 851 / 95598-0, www.english.passau.de, Easter to September:
Mon – Fri: 08.30–18.00, Sat, Sun, holidays: 09.00–16.00, October to Easter:
Mon – Thu: 08.30–17.00, Fri: 08.30–16.00, Sat, Sun: 10.00–15.00
5 Euro *
Tourist Information Regensburg, Altes Rathaus, Rathausplatz 4
93047 Regensburg, Tel.: +49 / 941 / 507- 4410, www.regensburg.de
Mon – Fri: 09.00–18.00, Sat 09.00–16.00, Sun and holidays: 09.30–16.00
(1st Nov to 31st March: 09.30–14.00, Sat during advent: 09.00–18.00)
© ARGE Straße der Kaiser und Könige
Walhalla, Donaustauf
© Robert Herbst
© Linz Tourismus / Jindrak
© CC
Length of Route: ca 600 km
Carnuntumhaus
Important places along the route:
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A8
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D1
Bratislava
Wiener
Neustadt
Motorway
City
Capital Citiy / Provincial Capital
Hainburg
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A
Vác
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Esztergom
Komárom
K
Györ
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Fertö
b
Györ-Moson-Sopron
M1
Budapest
Pannonhalma
HUNGARY
Additional Information
More about the Route
of Emperors and Kings
Komárom-Esztergom
www.routeofemperorsandkings.com
M3
Budapest
Pécs

© ARGE Straße der Kaiser und Könige
50 km
Pest
Visegrád
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Styria
nu
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Hallstadt/Dachstein
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10 km
SLOVAKIA
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Airport
0 km
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A4
Eisenstadt
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Donau-Moldau Region
UNESCO-World Heritage Site
A4
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© Passau Tourismus e.V.
Wien
Lower Austria
Pr
Travel Guide German
Available in Bookstores
262 pages, 125 x 210 mm
Grebennikov Verlag
ISBN 978-3-941784-28-4
€ 14,90 (D), € 15,40 (A)
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11 detailed excursions
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Enns
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St. Pölten
Melk
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Artstetten Palace
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Chiems
Salzburg
Tulln
The Danube
Route of Emperors and Kings
Nitra
Burgenland
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25 Places and Regions from
Lower Bavaria to Vienna
Mauthausen
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Upper Austria
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Clam Castle
Grein
Vien
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Nitriansky kraj
D u n a Da
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Wels
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400 km of Art, Culture and Cuisine
Linz
St. Florian
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rediscover
ARGE Straße der Kaiser und Könige
c/o Tourismusverband Linz
Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 2, 4020 Linz
Tel.: +43 / 732 / 7070 2937
[email protected]
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strassederkaiserundkoenige
Suit of armor, OberhausMuseum Passau
Route of Emperors
and Kings
Aschach
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Upper B
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Trnava
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Bratislavsky kraj
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Engelhartszell
Langenlois
Krems
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GERMANY
Today, the river displays green slopes, alluvial forests, and vineyards. In a
successful symbiosis of a modern lifestyle and economic system, and untouched nature, the appreciation of art, preservation of monuments, and
cultural tourism also come into their own. Unique in Europe, the Route of
Emperors and Kings provides all those interested and seeking relaxation
with truly imperial and royal delights.
The Thematic Travel-Guide
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The Route of Emperors and Kings lives up to its name. Emperor Charles
the Great followed the Roman emperors. Later, the Imperial Diets of the
Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation were convened in the free imperial city of Regensburg. A Roman-German imperial city since the 15th
century, Vienna became the „secret capital“ of the entire Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. From 1806 to 1918, the Danube served as the
axis of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
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The journey on the water proved to be incomparably faster and more
comfortable than the arduous overland route by wagon or carriage on
bumpy roads. From then on, noble rulers usually chose the comfortable
river route. In the evenings, the journey was interrupted to dine and
spend the night in magnificent towns, in the residencies on the banks of
the river. Musicians and theatre groups provided entertainment for the
lords. This pleasure can still be enjoyed today in beautiful restaurants full
of culinary delicacies and at numerous cultural festivals, exhibitions, and
concerts along the Danube.
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As part of the Danube valley, the Route of Emperors and Kings shows a
unique wealth of sights, particularly in the section between Regensburg
and Budapest. Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites lie directly the route
through scenic nature and cultural regions: the Old Town of Regensburg,
the cultural landscape of the Wachau, and Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.
Since Roman times, the Danube has been navigable for large trading and
passenger ships.
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Donauschifffahrt Wurm und Köck
With 12 ships the largest excursion shipping company in the Bavarian/
Austrian Danube area cruises from Regensburg to Vienna. Sightseeing
tours, liner shipping and evening trips.
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Banskobystrický kraj
Austria
Passau
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Spitz on the Danube
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Künzing
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© Ungarisches Tourismusamt
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Donauschifffahrt Wurm und Köck
Höllgasse 26, 94032 Passau
Tel.: +49 / 851 / 9292 92
www.donauschiffahrt.de
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The rich soil of Langenlois
If you visit the wine metropolis of Langenlois, you will discover a place
where wine becomes an experience, the garden becomes a spectacle, and
modern architecture a delight. With around 2,000 hectares of vineyards,
Langenlois is the largest winegrowing town in Austria, also known for its
landscape gardening and preservation of the diversity of cultivated plants.
For visitors who wish to find out more about the area and what it has to
offer, Ursin Haus is the first port of call: Here, information for tourists is combined with wine tasting – to get you in the right mood for discovering the
Kamp Valley.
The traditional and modern are harmoniously united in Langenlois: Historical Kornplatz with the old wineries and town houses, and the traditional
streets lined with wine cellars form the counterpart to modern Holzplatz,
contemporary wine cellars, and the architectural hanging signs.
The interplay between the old and the new is also reflected in the culture:
in the concept of LOISIARTE, at „Kultur in Langenloiser Höfen“, a series of
events, or at the „Schlossfestspiele Langenlois“ theatre festival.
LOISIUM Weinerlebniswelt is an absolute highlight of the area. Visitors experience something really unique: a 900-year-old cellar labyrinth with 19
stations, modern architecture by Steven Holl, and a fascinating laser show in
the basilica. After the tour, you are invited to browse the regional shop and
the enoteca with over 220 regional wines and guaranteed farm-gate prices.
Trnavsky kraj
Ceské Budejovice (Budweis)
© Stift St. Florian
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Culinary Danube
In the course of history, trade on the Danube also had a lasting impact on
the cuisine, enriching it in many ways. While Bavaria is famous for its Bratwurst and Weißwurst, spicy dumplings, Linzer-Torte and cider are typical regional cuisine in Upper Austria. Linzer-Torte has a particular connection to
the Danube: It is an example of how the spices of the Orient were combined
with Austria‘s baking culture via the waterway. This was the only possible
way 360 years ago – the oldest recipe is from this period – to obtain the
spices used. Lower Austria is particularly well known for its poppy-seed specialities and premium-class wines.
In Vienna, the varied delights of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy are revealed: Alongside hearty dishes such as Fiaker goulash and Tafelspitz, or
boiled beef, the cakes, above all, will tempt even the reluctant. The influences of the Hungarian, Czech, and Bohemian cuisines have created specialities such as Esterhazy-Schnitte, Powidltascherl, apple strudel, pancakes, and
Kaiserschmarrn.
And last but not least, the innumerable varieties of gateaux, such as SacherTorte and Wachauer-Torte, which are served in the famous old Viennese
coffeehouses with specialities like an Einspänner (espresso topped with
whipped cream) or a Wiener Melange (espresso with steamed milk and milk
foam). In Slovakia and Hungary, the culinary delights of imperial times are
also still an integral part of the cuisine.
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The Danube, the second largest river in Europe, has always served as a
transport route for people and goods. It functioned as a route for ideas
and culture, first from the Orient to the Occident and later in the opposite
direction. Numerous historical and art monuments testify to the rich and
varied history that took place here: ancient excavation sites, medieval
towns, monasteries and castles, baroque abbeys, palaces and residences,
and modern museums of every style of art.
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The Danube – Route of Emperors
and Kings
Aquincum
With over one million finds, the neoclassical building houses one of the
largest archaeological collections in Hungary and its restored mosaics and
monumental statues of the Roman palace are fascinating.
Szentendrei út 135, 1031 Budapest, Tel.: +36 / 1 / 250-1650 , www.aquincum.hu
Exhibitions: 1st Nov to 31st Mar: 10.00–16.00, 1st April to 31st Oct: 10.00–18.00
Archaeological Park: 1st April – 31st October: 09.00–18.00: Mon: closed.
Original Linzer Torte
French Revolution
In 1789 the French Revolution ended the feudal age. With Napoleon, the
transformation of Europe and the rise of the bourgeoisie began. The Corsican was Emperor of the French from 1804, and rode up and down the Danube several times. Between victories and defeats, he stayed in Regensburg,
Passau, Schönbrunn, and Vienna, and the dissolution of the old Holy Roman
Empire of the German Nation was the most important event.
The first step towards this was the secularisation of church estates: The
ecclesiastical territories were divided up between the secular states. Bavaria
was added to the episcopal principality of Passau, and was proclaimed a
kingdom on 1 January 1806.
In 1810 Regensburg was also given to the Bavarian crown. 600 years of autonomy had come to an end. In Austria, Francis II had accepted the hereditary title of Emperor in 1804. The newly created Austrian Empire included
the old Habsburg lands by the Danube and the kingdoms of Bohemia and
Hungary. The double-headed eagle, the coat of arms of the old Empire, was
continued as the national symbol of Austria. The new system of government survived the fall of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna in 1812.
Bavaria operated as a kingdom under the Wittelsbach dynasty until 1918.
Under King Ludwig I, monumental patriotic structures were built from 1825
to 1848, such as the Walhalla near Regensburg and the Befreiungshalle
above Kelheim.
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Budapest
Salzburg: Historic centre of the city, pre-historic pile dwellings (in the
Salzkammergut: Attersee, Mondsee), cultural heritage of Hallstat-Dachstein/Salzkammergut, cultural heritage Wachau, Český Krumlov: Historic
city centre.
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Vienna
Wien
Linz
Lauriacum
One of the most significant Roman collections in Austria, Lauriacum is an
impressive testimony to the diversity of Roman culture on the Danube limes, with a unique ceiling fresco and numerous exhibits.
Hauptplatz 19, 4470 Enns, Tel.: +43 / 7223 85362, www.museum-lauriacum.at,
Mon – Fri: 09.00–15.00, Sun: 10.00–12.00 and 14.00–16.00,
July and August: Sat and Sun: 10.00–16.00
ldau
Regensburg
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Tourist Highlights:
Along the Danube and in the immediate vicinity there are many
UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Regensburg: The historic district of Regensburg and Stadtamhof. Vienna:
Palace and gardens of Schönbrunn and historic city centre. Budapest:
Danube – river banks area, Andrásyy út, castle district of Buda. Pannonhalma: Benedictine abbey. Pécs: Early Christian grave-yard
Museum Quintana
Over four floors, the modern museum building takes its visitors on a fascinating journey through time: 7,000 years of an uninterrupted history of
settlement from the Neolithic period to Late Antiquity.
Osterhofener Str. 2, 94550 Künzing, Tel.: +49 / 8549 / 9731-12, www.museumquintana.de, Tue – Sun: 10.00– 7.00 (May to Sep), 10.00–16.00 (Oct to April)
Romans
The world Empire of the Romans can still be seen today on the whole course
of the holiday route. The Danube (Danubius) formed a natural boundary
of the Roman Empire to the north. Like a pearl necklace, Roman ports and
castles followed one another along the Danube limes. Most of the cities on
the Route of Emperors and Kings are of Roman origin: Regensburg (Castra Regina), Castra Batava (Passau), Linz (Lentia), Enns/Lorch (Lauriacum)
and Carnuntum (Petronell-Carnuntum, approx. 40 km east of Vienna), and
Vindobona (Vienna) were great, ancient cities with temples, paved squares,
theatres, and arenas.
Beyond the castle walls, civilian settlements formed. The word „Kneipe“ comes from the „Canabae“, or small drinking rooms, that could be found there.
Aquincum, now Budapest, was the largest town on the Roman Danube and
was already famous for its luxurious thermal baths.
Under Emperor Caracalla (211-217), the continuous limes road was laid, as
an ancient forerunner of the Route of Emperors and Kings along the entire
Danube. Preserved structures, such as the Roman walls in Regensburg and
Carnuntum, and archaeological sites, for example in Künzing, Vienna, and
Budapest show traces of the Roman emperors. Modern museums in Passau, Mautern, and Petronell (Carnuntum) deepen these impressions. Wine,
the culinary heritage of Roman times, will delight your taste buds and nose
along the Danube.
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Regensburg, Straubing, Deggendorf, Vilshofen, Passau, Engelhartszell,
Aschach, Linz, St. Florian, Enns, Mauthausen, Grein, Ybbs a.d.Donau,
Melk, Krems, St. Pölten, Tulln, Vienna, Hainburg, Bratislava, Komárom,
Esztergom, Visegrád, Vác, Budapest.
Napoleon Bonaparte painted by Jacques-Louis David
Römermuseum Quintana, Künzing
Ursin Haus Vinothek & Tourismusservice GmbH, Kamptalstraße 3
3550 Langenlois, Tel.: +43 (0)2734/2000-0, www.ursinhaus.at, www.langenlois.at
Loisium, Loisium Allee 1, 3550 Langenlois, Tel.: +43 / 2734 / 32240
www.loisium-weinwelt.at, Open all year long
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© Museum Quintana, Künzing
© Steve Haider
Route of
Emperors and Kings
Middle Ages
After the fall of the Roman Empire at the end of the 5th century, the Baiuvarii continued the Roman traditions in the early Middle Ages and built their
residences within the old Roman walls. During the reorganisation of the
church, numerous monasteries arose under the Bavarian dukes as centres
of colonisation. The Danube served Charles the Great and his son Pippin as
a military route during military campaigns and missions, with Regensburg
as a pivot for the Empire.
From the 10th century, the Diocese of Passau grew to be the largest in the
Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after Emperor Otto I‘s victory over
the Magyars, as a result of the eastern mission. After Hungary, the March of
Austria was colonised and called Ostarrichi (Austria) in a document for the
first time in 996. The Crusades from the 11th to the 13th century greatly
stimulated international trade in the High Middle Ages, with the Danube
as a traffic route. The west-east direction, unique in Europe‘s river system,
caused trade to flourish in the towns along the Danube. Castles along the
high, rocky banks still testify today to the knighthood of the High Middle
Ages. The Late Middle Ages were significantly shaped by the Habsburgs
of the Austro-Hungarian Empire: Emperor Frederick III‘s marriage policies
made the Habsburgs a world power. The puzzling monogram A.E.I.O.U. that
appears on many buildings is today interpreted as meaning „Alles Erdreich
ist Österreich untertan“ („All the world is subject to Austria“).
Stift Melk on the Danube
The baroque period
In an echo of Austria‘s epochal victory with Poland and Bavaria over the
Turks in 1683, the Monarchy rose to undisputed supremacy on the Danube
in the middle of the 18th century. This triumph was manifested in the magnificent Danube baroque that began in the churches and monasteries
along the Danube. In buildings, the visual arts, theatre, and music, Austria‘s
glory and genius were evoked.
The Hofburg and the imperial city by the Danube competed with Versailles
and Paris for political and cultural importance. Vienna received its grand
baroque look. Famous baroque architects such as Joseph Emanuel Fischer
von Erlach and Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt worked under Emperor
Charles VI (1711-1740).
Princes such as Schwarzenberg and Liechtenstein strove for the„great imperial Viennese world theatre“ with their splendid palace, and Prince Eugene
of Savoy had the Belvedere built in the south of the royal capital. The CounterReformationist Habsburgs attached great value to the prestigious renewal
of the churches in the baroque style.
For example, the cool splendour of Karlskirche in Vienna reflects the Habsburg dynasty‘s awareness of imperial power. The villages and towns along
the Danube received their baroque appearance, which still endures today.
Under Empress Maria Theresa (1740-1780), Vienna and the Austrian Danube
countries experienced their cultural, economic, and political peak.
Bruckner-organ at Stift St. Florian
St. Stephen‘s Cathedral
The mother church of the eastern Danube is very impressive, and is the most
important German baroque church in the Italian style, with its monumental
interior, the gilded pulpit, and the largest cathedral organ in the world.
Domplatz, 94032 Passau, www.bistum-passau.de/dom-st-stephan
Daily open from 06.30–19.00 (Summertime), 06.30–18.00 (Wintertime)
Cathedral Treasury Museum: 2nd May to 31st October: Mon – Fri: 10.00–16.00
St. Florian‘s Priory
In the middle of the gently undulating cultural landscape of the Traunviertel, the Priory is a place of devotion, contemplation, and meeting, as well as
a cultural centre of the area and a treasure of Austrian baroque.
Stiftstraße 1, 4490 Sankt Florian, Tel.: +43 / 7224/ 8902-0
www.stift-st-florian.at, Visits and tours by appointment
Pannonhalma
Surrounded by splendid oak forests and situated at the foot of the Benedictine abbey that celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 1996, Pannonhalma
is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts around 150,000 tourists
every year.
Vár u.1, HU-9090 Pannonhalma
Tel.: +36/ 96 / 570 191www.bences.hu
The Habsburgs in Gödöllő
Habsburgs
In the 19th century, the Habsburg Empire formed the „Dual Monarchy“
under the official name of the „Austro-Hungarian Monarchy“. The river connecting the Habsburg countries obtained a real sentimental value in the
Habsburg self-image.
The Dual Monarchy was epitomised by Emperor Franz Joseph, who ruled
the Empire from 1848 to 1916. In 1857 the inner bastions of the wide Ring
Road, with their fashionable, magnificent architecture, were demolished
and at this time, Johann Strauß I appropriately composed the „DemolirerPolka“. In 1867 the Hungarian part of the Empire achieved autonomy. In the
same year, Johann Strauß II composed The Blue Danube, Austria‘s secret
national anthem.
At the 1873 Vienna International Exhibition, Vienna presented itself as a centre of modern science, technology, and industry. However, Empress Sisi felt
very connected to Hungary as its queen and often travelled on the Route of
Emperors and Kings.
The assassination in Sarajevo in July 1914 brought about the fall of the
Monarchy. When Emperor Franz Joseph died on 21 November 1916,
a supranational institution and unifying symbol of power made its exit from
the lives of large parts of the Austro-Hungarian population. His demise was
seen as the natural end of the Dual Monarchy. The age of emperors and
kings on the Danube was over.
The Danube creates waves on Youtube
www.youtube.com/
strassederkundk
Browse pictures on Flickr
www.flickr.com/photos/
strassederkaiserundkoenige/
Ostbayern Tourismus
Regensburg Tourismus
Passau Tourismus e.V.
Donau Oberösterreich
www.ostbayern-tourismus.de
www.regensburg.de/tourismus
www.tourismus.passau.de
www.donauregion.at
Donau Österreich
www.austria.info/donau
Donausschifffahrt Wurm und Köck
www.donauschiffahrt.de
Linz Tourismus
www.linztourismus.at
Donau Niederösterreich
www.donau.com
WienTourismus
www.vienna.info
Bratislava Tourismus
Ungarn Tourismus
www.visitbratislava.eu
www.gotohungary.com
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