Straubing: Discover Culture and City History

Straubing offers a variety of reasons to visit: city history, museums, historic sites, and wildlife each have their own appeal. Attractions range from archaeological finds and medieval history to views of Straubing and the Danube.

Museums and the History of Straubing

The Gäubodenmuseum invites visitors to explore 7,000 years of history in the city of Straubing and its surrounding area. One of its special highlights is the Roman Treasure. The city describes it as the largest closed hoard of Roman parade armor ever discovered. The museum thus focuses both on a broad sweep of history and on a specific find.

The “Baiern gefunden” (Bavarians Unearthed) exhibition adds a look at early Bavarian history. It opened in 2018 and is interactive and accessible. It features finds of historical significance to the region from richly furnished early medieval necropolises. The exhibition thus brings together material evidence from burial grounds and an exploration of an early historical period.

The former ducal palace on the Danube also tells the story of Straubing’s past. Duke Albrecht I had it built from 1356 as the Lower Bavarian residence of the Wittelsbach Duchy of Bavaria-Straubing-Holland, which existed from 1353 to 1425. The Agnes Bernauer Festival is performed in the courtyard of Straubing’s ducal palace every four years. It tells the story of Agnes Bernauer, the daughter of a bathhouse keeper. If you would like a performance to be a highlight of your trip, check the exact festival dates when planning.

Cemetery, Zoo, and Model Railway

The Historic Cemetery of St. Peter offers another way to explore the city’s history. Surrounded by a high wall and old trees, it has more than 1,000 tombstones that tell the story of Straubing. The cemetery is considered a peaceful oasis. Its historical significance and distinctive setting go hand in hand, without the need for an exhibition.

Around 200 animal species are kept at Straubing Zoo. Exotic examples include lions, parrots, and crocodiles; native wildlife includes lynxes, brown bears, and bison. BlueBrix offers a very different attraction: the site features a 130-square-meter H0-scale model railway with a special focus on the city of Straubing. The wildlife and model railway appeal to different interests, complementing the historical themes with nature and technology.

A Nearby Place

Near the destination, on the Great Laaber Cycle Path shortly before the Great Laaber flows into the Danube, you’ll find the Straubing Danube Rest Area. It has seating and bike racks, with views of Straubing and the Danube. The rest area is a point of interest in the surrounding area in its own right, rather than another stop in the city’s history.

Straubing-Bogen: The Wider Region

Those looking at the wider destination of Straubing-Bogen will find other distinct attractions there. In Wiesenfelden, a 2.3-kilometer accessible circular trail runs around Beckenweiher pond; it is also suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Five information points with benches and panels cover the pond’s wildlife and plant life, conservation status, and history. There is also a 110-meter-long nature observation boardwalk. The Bogenberg District Museum, by contrast, focuses on cultural history: it explores the history of the Bavarian lozenges and presents Bogenberg as Lower Bavaria’s Holy Mountain and the site of one of Bavaria’s oldest Marian pilgrimages. Guided tours around Bogenberg can be tailored for groups of ten or more and school classes; they are also available outside opening hours by prior arrangement by phone or in writing.

Discover more destinations: Wiesenfelden, Sankt Englmar, Rattenberg, Bogen, Hunderdorf, Haibach, Atting, Konzell.

Back to the broader travel overview: Straubing-Bogen.