Kelheim: History, the Danube and Cycling Routes
Accommodation in Kelheim
The Befreiungshalle and the Old Town offer a glimpse into Kelheim’s history; the river landscape shapes an outing to the Danube Gorge, while the Altmühltal Cycle Route includes Kelheim as a destination on a longer route. A free Actionbound rally about the UNESCO World Heritage Danube Limes adds to the town’s themed activities.
Befreiungshalle and the history of the Old Town
The Befreiungshalle stands on Michelsberg hill above Kelheim. King Ludwig I commissioned it as a memorial to the victorious battles against Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation from 1813 to 1815. Its construction history has two clearly distinct stages: Friedrich Gärtner began the building; after the plans were revised, Leo von Klenze completed the hall in 1863. The year therefore marks completion after the plans were changed, not the start of the project.
The “Old Ducal Town of Kelheim” tour shifts the focus from the individual building to the Old Town and its history. This classic guided tour takes visitors to medieval town gates, ornate Renaissance façades, chapels and church ruins. Kelheim’s wine and beer traditions are also covered. This brings architectural history and urban landmarks together with the history of local traditions. If you wish to plan your visit around the tour, check the current dates and booking options.
An alternative route for the Riedenburg–Kelheim stage runs along the left bank downstream to the Befreiungshalle on Michelsberg hill. From there, a winding footpath leads down to Kelheim’s Old Town. This route connects the stop on Michelsberg with a destination in the Old Town, adding a specific route option to the picture of the town.
The Danube Gorge and Weltenburg
The Danube Gorge between Kelheim and Weltenburg Abbey is the deepest and narrowest stretch of the Bavarian Danube. The landing stage in Kelheim is the starting point for boat trips through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey. Timetables and restrictions due to water levels may vary; check the information before your trip. This makes it possible to plan the boat trip as a separate activity rather than treating it as one of the Old Town’s attractions.
In the area near Kelheim, visitors can see an exhibition at Weltenburg Abbey. It covers Weltenburg’s history of more than a thousand years, the Benedictine abbey, the monastery brewery and the natural environment of the “Weltenburger Enge.” The destination brings together historical, monastic and natural history themes. In Kelheim itself, by contrast, the Befreiungshalle and the Old Town are the focus of the historical attractions described here.
Cycling routes and regional trails
The AltmĂĽhltal Cycle Route runs for 166 kilometres from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim through the AltmĂĽhltal Nature Park. For most of its length, it follows its own route away from motorised traffic; surfaces include asphalt and well-maintained water-bound paths. Signposts and kilometre markers help cyclists find their way along the route. Cyclists can use Deutsche Bahn trains and leisure buses equipped with convenient bike trailers to return to their starting point or make intermediate trips along the route. As specific timetables may change, it is a good idea to check connections before setting out.
The Danube Cycle Route has a different focus: it passes through Weltenburg and Kelheim, with Kelheim’s Old Town and the Befreiungshalle along the way. A stage of the Altmühltal Panorama Trail can also be combined with a boat trip: on the Riedenburg–Kelheim stage, the destination of Kelheim is reached by boat through the Danube Gorge. Different features therefore matter when choosing between these routes: the 166-kilometre length of the Altmühltal Cycle Route on the one hand, and arrival by boat on the specified Panorama Trail stage on the other.
The AltmĂĽhltal Archaeology Park extends beyond Kelheim: it stretches over 39 kilometres and includes 18 sites between Kelheim, Essing, Riedenburg and Dietfurt. The sites offer insights ranging from Neanderthals to the Celts; most are located directly on the AltmĂĽhltal Cycle Route. This lets visitors explore the cycling route and archaeological themes together across the wider Kelheim travel destination, without limiting the park to Kelheim alone.
Rally along the Danube Limes
The free Actionbound rally about the UNESCO World Heritage Danube Limes starts or ends at the Kelheim Archaeological Museum and follows both the northern and southern banks of the Danube. As availability may change, check before your visit whether the activity is available.
Discover more destinations: Siegenburg, Painten, Volkenschwand, Langquaid, Wildenberg, Bad Abbach, Rohr In Niederbayern, Neustadt An Der Donau
Go to the overview of destinations: Kelheim.
