Mauthausen: Danube history and cycling routes

Mauthausen combines Danube history with distinctive buildings and cycling routes. Historically, two trade routes crossed here: the Danube shipping route ran from west to east along the old Roman imperial border. The salt and iron route led from the south across the Danube ford to the north, onward towards Bohemia and Moravia. Their different directions illustrate the importance of the Danube and the river crossing in the town’s history.

Trade Routes and Granite History

Over time, the granite quarries in Mauthausen replaced the salt trade. Many cobblestone streets, bridges and foundations in Linz, Vienna and Budapest still bear witness to the importance of the Mauthausen granite quarries. The town’s history thus encompasses both the former trade routes and the shift from salt trading to granite quarrying.

Pragstein Castle and Its Design

Lassla von Prag, once the mortgage holder of Mauthausen, had Pragstein Castle built in 1492 on a rocky island in the Danube just off the shore. Its pentagonal ground plan gives the building a distinctive shape: its fifth corner points west, against the current, like the bow of a ship. This links the architectural description to the castle’s position in the Danube.

For groups of ten or more, guided tours of the Mauthausen Castle Museums are available year-round by prior arrangement, including outside opening hours. If you are planning a group tour, make sure to book in advance and confirm the specific arrangements before your visit.

St. Nicholas Parish Church

St. Nicholas Parish Church also tells the story of different construction phases. Its first, Romanesque building dates to around 1200 and was destroyed in 1424 during the Hussite Wars. The church was rebuilt in the Late Gothic style in the mid-15th century. The sequence takes the story from its Romanesque beginnings to its Late Gothic reconstruction.

Visiting the Concentration Camp Memorial

Access to the grounds of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp Memorial is free and does not require registration. A free audio guide app is available for Android and iOS in twelve languages. Mauthausen/Oberösterreich railway station is about four kilometres from the memorial. Check the latest visitor information before your visit.

Cycling Routes and Views

Mauthausen lies directly on the Danube Cycle Path. For circular rides, two named routes can be compared by length: the Mauthausen Cycling Circuit 972 is about 17 kilometres long; the “Schloss-Pragstein-Mauthausen” Cycling Circuit is 17.5 kilometres long and starts at Pragstein Castle in the centre of the Danube market town. The second route thus combines a specific distance with a starting point in the town centre.

For a short cycling or photo stop, head to Heindlkai on the banks of the Danube, with views of Pragstein Castle. From Kalvarienberg, you can enjoy a panorama of the Danube Valley. The stages of the Danube Trail also provide a guide to the routes mentioned: Stage 3 runs from Steyregg to Mauthausen, and Stage 4 from Mauthausen to Perg. In Mauthausen, historic buildings, riverside connections and routes described in different ways offer concrete points of reference for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Allerheiligen Im Mühlkreis, Naarn Im Machlande, Langenstein, Klam, Schwertberg, Perg, Katsdorf, Henndorf.

Back to the main travel overview: Perg.