Discover Kelheim and find hotels
Accommodation in Kelheim
Kelheim district brings together diverse landscapes, offering several regional perspectives. The northern part of the district, including Kelheim, Essing and Riedenburg, lies in Altmühltal Nature Park. The southern part, including Abensberg, Neustadt an der Donau, Biburg, Rohr i. NB and Mainburg, belongs to the Hallertau, which is considered the world’s largest contiguous hop-growing region. For a stay in Kelheim, the northern area’s connection to the nature park provides the immediate setting; the Hallertau marks a distinct southern accent. If you are looking for a hotel in Kelheim, this overview helps place the town in the context of the wider district.
Natural landscape and hikes
The “Weltenburger Enge, Hirschberg and Altmühlleiten” nature reserve in Kelheim includes the unique Danube Gorge. In 2020, Weltenburger Enge became the first National Natural Monument. The nature reserve has eleven hiking trails. A 13-kilometre hike leads from Essing via the Tatzlwurm, past the Klausenhöhlen caves and along the Celtic Wall to the Danube Gorge. The eleven trails describe the selection available in the protected area; the 13 kilometres refer to the length of this particular suggested route. This lets you distinguish between a choice of trails and one specific itinerary when planning. A section of the East Bavarian Way of St. James leads from Kelheim to Weltenburger Enge. This route, in turn, connects two endpoints and adds a pilgrimage trail to the hiking options.
Cycling routes and archaeology
The Danube Cycle Path passes through Weltenburg and Kelheim; in Kelheim, the old town and the Befreiungshalle are along the route. Check current trail conditions before setting out. The Archaeology Park Altmühltal is another cycling-related attraction: it extends for 39 kilometres, and most of its sites are directly on the Altmühltal Cycle Path. The park has 18 sites between Kelheim, Essing, Riedenburg and Dietfurt, offering insights into the past from the Neanderthals to the Celts. The 39 kilometres describe the park’s extent, while 18 is the number of its sites. The old town and the Befreiungshalle are on the Danube Cycle Path; most Archaeology Park sites are linked to the Altmühltal Cycle Path. This distinction keeps the two route connections clearly separate.
History and literary connections
The Befreiungshalle Kelheim is a memorial commissioned by King Ludwig I to commemorate the victorious battles against Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation from 1813 to 1815. Another historical landmark in the district is Prunn Castle, known as the place where an original manuscript of the Nibelungenlied was found. The Befreiungshalle thus commemorates the Wars of Liberation, tied to specific dates, while Prunn Castle connects the area to a manuscript of the Nibelungenlied. These represent two distinct historical themes: military remembrance and literary history.
The AltmĂĽhl as a distinctive feature
The Altmühl is also one of the region’s attractions. Its gentle current makes it an ideal river for families. This description highlights the river’s pace, while the information about hiking and cycling routes refers to specific paths and distances. These different aspects of the region can be enjoyed side by side, without the river description implying a particular tour.
Discover more destinations: Painten, Riedenburg, Bad Abbach, Abensberg, Kelheim, Saal an der Donau, Rohr in Niederbayern, Langquaid, Siegenburg, Neustadt an der Donau, Volkenschwand, Ihrlerstein, Aiglsbach, Elsendorf, Wildenberg.
Back to the regional travel overview: Bavaria.
