Discover Schönau

Schönau offers two distinct starting points for planning your trip: the neo-Gothic St. Stephen’s Parish Church and the Palace Park, with its moated castle and protected trees. Both represent specific aspects of architectural and landscape history. The wider Rottal-Inn destination complements these local themes with its own cultural, nature and leisure activities.

St. Stephen’s Parish Church and Palace Park

St. Stephen’s Parish Church in Schönau was built in 1890/91 in the neo-Gothic style, based on plans by church architect Johann Schott. Its construction dates, architect and style give the church a clear historical point of reference. If you are interested in church architecture, you can consider these three aspects separately: the years it was built, Johann Schott’s plans and its architectural classification as neo-Gothic. This keeps the building’s history specific without requiring you to plan a more extensive itinerary.

Schönau Palace Park includes the moated castle of the Barons Riederer von Paar. Carl von Effner, the Munich Court Garden Director, laid out the park in 1867 in a style similar to the English Garden. The grounds are also designated a landscape conservation area, with protected trees. Here, a dated park design, a named designer and a formal conservation status come together. The combination of castle and park offers a different perspective on Schönau’s local history than the architectural history of the parish church: alongside the moated castle, the focus is on the design of the landscape and its protected trees.

The distinction between these local highlights is easy to sum up: St. Stephen’s represents neo-Gothic church architecture, while the Palace Park represents the 1867 design and a protected park landscape. This gives you a way to start exploring Schönau through the themes that interest you most on your trip.

More to explore in the wider Rottal-Inn destination

The wider Rottal-Inn destination offers activities that appeal to different interests beyond Schönau’s architectural and park features. These include thermal baths, theatre and Gothic architecture, as well as cycling and hiking trails and themes related to rural life.

Rottal Terme has more than 30 pleasantly warm thermal-water pools at temperatures of 26 to 40°C, as well as 13 different saunas and steam baths. The spa complex also includes a 105-metre-long thermal stream and health, prevention and wellness services. These figures may change as facilities are renovated, so check the current range of services before making specific plans.

Theater an der Rott presents premieres every year in drama, musical theatre, concerts, dance, operetta and opera. It is the only theatre in Germany owned by a district. Productions change, so check the current performance schedule if you are planning a visit. The “Gothic Tours” offer a different way to explore culture: they introduce selected Gothic monuments to local residents and tourists using brochures, maps, the tour portal and the Gothic portal. The Gothic portal offers on-site audio guides to Gothic buildings, as well as an online museum with information, knowledge and learning resources. Its digital offerings may evolve; its focus is on presenting Gothic buildings.

For nature and outdoor activities, the Inn Cycle Path passes through the Lower Inn European Reserve and offers a range of opportunities to discover the flora and fauna of the Rottal-Inn leisure region. The region also has a well-developed, extensive network of trails, with several hundred kilometres for hikers and cyclists. The tour portal supports individual route planning with elevation profiles, information about trail conditions and GPX downloads. You can use this information to plan routes based on the listed profiles and trail characteristics.

For another perspective on life in the region, the Rottaler Farm Tour in 2026 is an experience programme focused on rural life and everyday work. Its themes include wildlife, farming culture, traditional crafts, handicrafts and regional specialities. The range of regional themes thus extends from nature and outdoor activities to traditional crafts and local food.

If you choose Schönau as your destination, you can first decide whether you want to focus on the local architectural and landscape themes or also include activities in the wider Rottal-Inn area. When considering a specific hotel offer, compare the details provided with your own requirements.

Discover more destinations: Wurmannsquick, Ering, Stubenberg, Egglham, Arnstorf, Rimbach, Roßbach, Kirchdorf Am Inn.

Back to the wider travel overview: Rottal-Inn.