Danube Cycle Path stage 8 southern bank: Petronell - Bratislava

Medieval fans can be enchanted in Petronell by the St. John the Baptist Chapel, whose Romanesque rotunda dates back to the Knights Templar. And a visit to the Roman city of Carnuntum lets you experience antiquity live. Unique worldwide, the essential architectural types of a Roman neighborhood have been reconstructed in their historical context: a townhouse, a magnificent city villa with furniture, underfloor heating, a functional stove, and a public bathhouse.

You will also encounter the ancient Romans in the spa town of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg. And not only in the Carnuntinum Museum, which with its ancient Roman statues and reliefs, mosaics and coins, weapons and jewelry pieces represents the core of the Roman city of Carnuntum. But also in the Carnuntum Thermal Baths, where rheumatism has been treated since antiquity.

The nearby town of Hainburg is endowed not only with the old city gates, the Wienertor, Ungartor, and Fischertor, but also an extensive castle ruin of medieval charm. In addition to the Schlossberg in the town, the Hundsheimer Berg and the Braunsberg also dominate the landscape. The latter offers the best view of the Danube, the Theben Hill with Devin Castle located already in Slovakia, as well as the neighboring Bratislava, whose suburbs you will reach shortly after the border at Wolfsthal.

The Slovak capital offers you – at the end of your cycling trip – numerous sights: such as the four-towered castle, the city’s landmark, or the Slovak National Theatre, the old town with the Hviezdoslavovo Namestie Boulevard, or the New Bridge, on whose bridge pillars a futuristic restaurant ("UFO") offers comprehensive views.

Petronell - Bad Deutsch-Altenburg - Hainburg - Bratislava

Route description:

You start your route in Petronell and first follow the main street eastward until you turn into Solafeldgasse at the edge of town. At its end, you continue east until you reach Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, whose quarry is already visible from afar. If you have enough time, you can refresh your tired legs in the local thermal baths. Bad Deutsch-Altenburg has the strongest iodine-sulfur springs in Europe.

In Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, head towards the Danube bank and pass under the B49. Shortly afterward, you arrive in Hainburg. Here you take a break and visit the old but very well-preserved fortress complex. Back on the route, you say goodbye to the Danube bank, which you will only see again in Bratislava, ride along the railway tracks, and then a short section on Thebner Street, which you leave to the right at the first opportunity. You meet the B9 on whose north side there is a cycle path that you follow.

Shortly before the border, the federal road and the cycle path split. After a long left turn and a right turn, you ride along the riverside promenade of Bratislava and enjoy the view of the Danube, Bratislava Castle, and St. Martin's Cathedral during the last meters.