Metten: Monastery Gardens, Baroque Library, and Cycling and Hiking Trails

When planning a stay in Metten, you can focus on several different things: the Baroque library of the Benedictine Abbey, garden design, opportunities for physical activity, and cycling and hiking trails. The library has a set guided-tour schedule; for routes, important distinctions include their courses and where they start and end.

Baroque Library and Gardens

The Baroque renovation and design of the library at Metten Benedictine Abbey were commissioned between 1720 and 1722. The Baroque library is accessible only as part of a guided tour. Tours take place Tuesday through Saturday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and on Sundays and public holidays at 3 p.m. Times and closures may change, so check the information with the abbey before your visit. For planning purposes, this access arrangement clearly differs from the routes, where the route itself is the main focus.

The Prelate’s Garden lies immediately west of the monastery grounds. It was laid out on the site of the abbey’s former hop garden and opened in 2007. Its previous use is therefore part of the garden’s history. To the south, an open garden adjoins the Baroque garden area. It is set lower by stone seating steps and planted with native fruit tree varieties. The gardens therefore have different features: the Prelate’s Garden is notable for the site’s former use and its opening, while the open garden is defined by its sunken design, seating steps, and fruit trees.

Cycling and Hiking Routes and Opportunities for Physical Activity

Metten is a starting point for many cycling and hiking trails, including routes away from the Danube. The Via Nova pilgrimage route is one of the long-distance cycling routes that pass through Metten. The Via Nova through the Bavarian Forest is a cycling and hiking route, with Metten named as a starting point. These descriptions offer different points of reference: Metten is a place the first route passes through and a designated starting point for the second. The seventh stage of the Danube Panorama Trail runs from Metten to Deggendorf and follows the river throughout. Check local conditions before setting out.

The fitness trail at Eichenhain is located on a green space or playground on the edge of the Kälberweide residential area in Metten. It includes fitness equipment and rest areas. The existing outdoor pool run by the market town of Metten was converted into an inclusive natural swimming pool during the 2023–2024 project period. The two places offer different opportunities for physical activity: the fitness trail features exercise equipment and rest areas, while the pool was converted into an inclusive natural swimming pool. If you plan to visit the pool, check the current opening hours in advance.

Deggendorf as a Wider Travel Destination

The wider travel destination of Deggendorf includes additional scenic spots and viewpoints that broaden the regional picture. The ruins of Natternberg Castle in Deggendorf can be reached by footpaths from three sides. From there, views extend across the Gäuboden and into the Bavarian Forest. Winzer Castle Ruins are noted for their views of the Danube Valley. These viewpoints add destinations specifically associated with Deggendorf to the local and route-based perspective on Metten.

The landscape of the Deggendorfer Land region also offers a broader regional perspective: it stretches from the heights of the Bavarian Forest, across the Danube landscape and the Isar estuary, to the rich colors of the Gäuboden. The area lies between 200 and 1,150 meters above sea level. This gives you a clear distinction when choosing the focus of your trip: Metten offers specific points of interest connected with the monastery, gardens, opportunities for physical activity, and routes; Deggendorf broadens the picture with the viewpoints and landscapes mentioned above.

Discover more destinations: Plattling, Auerbach, Lalling, Offenberg, Winzer, Osterhofen, Grattersdorf, Grafling.

Go to the main travel overview: Deggendorf.