Rastplatz Penzenstein

Welcome to the Penzenstein rest area.

"Blue Men" and "Medicinal Snakes"...
From the lookout points, you can see the contrasts between the Danube slopes.

On one side: rocky, dry, warm, steep slopes. On the other side: flat areas and gently rising hills.

The steep slopes of the Donauleiten offer a wide variety of habitats within a very small area. Shady forests, steep rocky cliffs, boulder fields, and narrow stream gorges all occur side by side. These diverse habitats support a high diversity of animal and plant species.
Two particularly interesting inhabitants are the green lizard and the Aesculapian snake.
The green lizard is threatened with extinction in Bavaria and critically endangered in Austria. The males’ blue-colored throats are particularly striking during the mating season.
The Aesculapian snake is the largest snake in Central Europe and a skilled climber. It can be found as a symbol on every pharmacy, where it deftly scales the rod of Asclepius.

According to legend, the devil also wreaked havoc around the Penzenstein.
The Danube legend “To Hell with the Stone!” reveals how the area was freed from him and why his footprints can still be seen on the Penzenstein today.