R1.03 Danube Valley Gorge Round

For this purpose diverse opportunities for free and independent exploring and experimenting are offered at different stations.
 
The stations are suitable for children and adolescents of all ages.
 
Six sections from the spring to the estuary give an insight and information about the river dynamics, landscape and life by the water with interactive building games.
 
1. Station: Spring of the Danube
“Here our guests can guess on which underground they are wading.” So: Take off your shoes and go into the fresh water in the traditional “Kneipp” way. Four different types of stones are incorporated into the stream and massage your feet while walking.

2. Station: Alpine mountain river with a storage power station and a barefoot pathway for your senses 
“Here mill wheels are integrated into the river stream and during flooding their functionality is tested”
Everyone, who has enough strength and braveness to go onto the walls of the storage power station, can open the floodgates and cause a flooding of the mini Danube. The mill wheels, incorporated into the river stream, are starting to turn. The mineralogical lab “Geologisches Gesteinslabor” presents different types of stones of the Danube region. 
 
3. Station: Natural attraction “Schlögener Schlinge” and run-of-river power plant
“Here you can easily test how passing through the locks functions.”
Small rafts and ships can be guided through self-made floodgates. Easily pictured, the guest understands how the locking of ships functions.
 
4. Station: River construction in the basin landscape
“Here river builders can design individually the river stream’”
Shovels, rakes, buckets…just everything you need to change the stream of the small river is provided at the cash area.  You can design individually which path the water follows through the riverbed. Great fun for children and for the young at heart.
 
5. Station: Iron Gates
„At the Southern Carpathians the Danube has no choice but to go through the narrow breakthrough valley between Rumania and Serbia."
It gets also narrow for everyone, who dares to go on our balance path! Those, who fall into the water, should better have some clothes for changing. Across the Iron Gates lies the “Donauländer Kinderkreis.” Here all emblems of the ten Danube countries are visualized.
 
6. Station: Danube Delta, Black Sea, with cable ferry and Huso (sturgeon)
“Here lies the sturgeon species Huso – with a length of 9 metres especially impressive!”
Nymphs and water spirits, painted by children, welcome guests to the Danube Delta by the Black Sea. Anyone who likes can enjoy the view from the market house. On the other side you can find the “Huso”, which is a wooden and climbable sturgeon. Brave ones dare the passage to the other shore.
 
“The aliens are coming“
Who are these aliens that mingle with our native flora and fauna and represses them?
How could they spread out and which effects have they on the balance of species? This and many more questions are discussed in the exhibition “The aliens are coming”.
 
1. Gigantic aquarium with fish of the Danube
Centre piece of our exhibition is our gigantic aquarium. Also the Huso (our sturgeon is 2 metre long!) – the giant of the Danube – and starlets can be experienced closely. While the Huso species doesn’t exist anymore in the Upper Danube valley, the starlet survived in a self-reproduced species.
 
2. Plants on tour
In the entrance area of the exhibition we present non-native plants (neophytes) whose appearance influenced partly our cultural landscape. Other ones are crop plants whose promotion in turn displaced certain native plants from their natural habitat.

3. Interactive playing areas
Watching – understanding – creating
In “Wassererlebnis mini Danube” the Danube can be experienced at six stations from the spring to the estuary. On the “alien path”, which leads you to the gigantic aquarium, you are challenged by an alien quiz and a fish puzzle!

In the "Danube Stories" exhibition (part of the Engelhartszell Danube World), themes from the history of the market town of Engelhartszell have been playfully and artistically designed by children. It is located right next to the market town hall and houses an original ship's cabin, small ship models and tells about life on and along the Danube.
There is also information about the "Donausteig from Passau to Grein" with a film about the Danube and the INFOPOINT - "Natura 2000", where photo slides, sound recordings and films give a particularly realistic impression of nature in the European nature reserve.

After the exhibition, we recommend an informative walk along the Danube Trail - from Engelhartszell to the Jochenstein power station - which is also part of the Engelhartszell Danube World. Duration approx. 1 hour.

Group tours:
Bookable: 01 May to 30 September, daily 1 - 5 pm
01 October to 31 October, Saturday, Sunday, public holiday, 1 - 5 p.m.
Outside these times on request
Duration: approx. 1 hour
Group size: unlimited
Admission: free

Our family business with attached farm is located 1 km before Engelhartszell near the Danube power station Jochenstein.

For our guests we offer free of charge a covered swimming pool with sunbathing area, deckchairs and children's playground. Permanent car parking and motorbike or bicycle parking facilities are available. This is the ideal place to start your cycling tour along the Danube Cycle Path or your hiking tour along the Danube Trail.

In our cosy restaurant with a great view of the Danube and the power station
Jochenstein (80 seats) and in the beautiful guest garden, we serve good
from traditional to creative cuisine as well as coffee and cakes.
We also offer a snack menu (seasonal from May to October).

restaurant-bernhards@gmx.at

https://www.bernhards-restaurant.at/

We are on holiday:

11.09 - 20.09

30.10 - 22.11

On 21 April 1854, Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria started her journey to Vienna as the future bride of Emperor Franz Joseph I. A particularly festive reception was prepared for the young Sissi in the border customs office and market of Engelhartszell.

In memory of this event, a café named "Sissi" has now been set up in the former grocer's shop of the Atteneder family with great attention to detail.

Guests at the "Sissi" cafe can expect a variety of breakfasts, hot dishes at lunchtime, homemade pastries, wines from Hebenstreit, Engelszell monastery liqueurs and Trappist beers.

On open house days local artists show their artworks in the Danube atelier “Donau-Atelier”. The dates are published in the program of the club “Kultur an der Donau”.

at the inn “Gasthof Steininger ‚Zum Goldenen Schiff‘ “

at the market town hall Engelhartszell

Engelhartszell Danube World!
This unique presentation impressively depicts the market town of Engelhartszell with its historical background and its close relationship to the Danube. Here are the stations:

- Engelhartszell Sensory Garden
- Water experience Mini-Danube with large aquarium
- Danube Studios
- Danube Square
- Danube Game
- Danube Stories
- Danube Power Station

"Danube Stories" is the name of the interesting exhibition that is part of the Danube World. It tells exciting stories about local life on and along the Danube! Especially exciting for hikers are: a historical Fliesteiner (passenger transport ship; see "Engelhartszell-Über Maut & Fliesteiner"), historical descriptions of Danube journeys, models of historical Danube ships,...
 
Furthermore, the information point "Natura 2000" provides very nice insights into the fauna of the slope and gorge forests of the upper Danube valley. We can learn more about the uniqueness of these forests on the next stage of the Danube Path in Schlögen under "Life-Nature-Project: Slope and Gorge Forests in the Upper Danube Valley".

Visitors can enjoy the fruits of this labour in the monastery, buy them and take them home with them. Engelszell Abbey has always been famous for its monastery liqueurs. The bitters are particularly digestible. The Engelszell Trappists acquired the recipe for the herbal mixture from a Swiss pharmacist in 1929 - and it remains top secret to this day. Since then, the monks have continued to expand their range of liqueurs. In 2012, they also opened their own brewery, which has since been brewing various Trappist beers modelled on Belgian beers, as well as lighter and more drinkable beers typical of the region

1. Station: Old wine types
The planted grapevines come all from this region, especially from Sigharting, Schardenberg, Pyrawang and Engelhartszell/Oberranna. The uniqueness of these grapevines is that they are old European types whose names however are forgotten.
 
2. Station: Herb garden
Herbs found their way through monasteries into the regional garden culture. This herb garden also shows many herbs that are used in the popular liquor “Engelszeller Klosterlikör”. Of course, recipes are not revealed. After baroque example the garden is divided into five areas which stand for different body functions: stomach/intestines, heart/skin, nerves/life energy – women/birth and the head as the central part. The effects of the herbs are described on an information panel.

3. Station: Meditation garden with labyrinth
In a quiet part of the castell’s meadow is the meditation garden located. Here the special landscape potential with the view to the Danube river and the colourful slope forests of the nature reserve “Donauleiten” is amplified. The labyrinth is a classic labyrinth with seven circuits. This old labyrinth type comes from a Cretan primeval form and incorporates Christian symbols. The cross shape forms the centre of the labyrinth and combines the idea of connectivity of nature and inner reflection with Christian values.
The labyrinth symbolizes the search of human beings after themselves and an individual living form. After many turns through colonnades from river stones you reach the centre of the labyrinth and then you can find your way outwards again. It is a symbol and an exercise of internalisation, peace and cosmopolitanism. 

4. Station: Old fruit trees
The exhibition garden of old fruit tree types follows to the west and shows in particular local and ancient types of fruit. A selection: different apples, pears, plums and cherries. Looking, smelling and learning is the motto in this part of the garden.

5. Station: Water sensory path
This “Kneipp” stream is integrated into the area of the mini Danube “Mini-Donau”. The small river stream encompasses different types of stone and you can go barefoot through it.
 
6. Station: Garden of confused senses
This part of the garden is designed specifically for the residents of the local Caritas facility "invita" and thus, is not open to the public. As a therapy garden it is created according to the needs of the residents.

Whether in the shadow of the mighty abbey church or in the historic abbey cellar. You are sure to find a pleasant place where you can savour the abbey's own liqueurs and home-brewed beers. Of course, we also offer desserts and snacks as refreshments in between. The adjoining shop at the Stiftspforte invites you to browse and shop. 

Of course, the trout circus is not a zoo and certainly not a wildlife park. However, this circus has probably something that is unique on this whole world: tame trouts show under guidance of their trainer various artistic tricks. They play soccer, jump through rings and perform many more funny feats.
 
Additionally, you can see a Venetian saw frame from 1820 in action: everything done with an wooden motor and axis. And Mr. Luger knows stories…you will be amazed!
 
The trout circus is located 5 km above Engelhartszell and is looking forward to your visit!

Our establishment is located opposite the Engelszell monastery, directly at the four boat landing stages, the boat landing stage and the bus stop.

We offer warm cuisine all day and spoil our guests with regional home cooking and homemade cake variations. We would especially like to recommend our homemade products such as jams, must, vinegar, syrup, etc. to our guests.

A petrol station with bike service and bike rental is attached to our inn.
Outside opening hours you can use our petrol station from 06:00 - 22:00. Payment only possible with debit card.

Secured parking spaces and garage spaces.

Feel the pleasant atmosphere of our house. There is also a sunny guest garden.

Traditional inn with down-to-earth cuisine, cosy garden terrace, function room for approx. 400 people, ideal for celebrations of all kinds; dining room, cellar parlour; popular meeting place for local groups and clubs

Restaurant and adjoining room: 90 - 100 seats
Terrace with wonderful view towards Schlögenere Schlinge
Warm cuisine daily 10.00 - 14.00 (except day off = Wednesday)
Specialities/Smankerl/Hausmannskost

The inn is located directly on the "Donausteig" or "Donausteigrunde" and the "Schlögener-Blick" Very good regional cuisine, large terrace.

With the best from the Innviertel. And creative highlights from all over the world. Regional products and ingredients in exclusively organic quality. Vegetarian and vegan options are also allowed. Plus freshly tapped organic beer from Hofstettner and Schladminger, organic wines and refreshing juices.

We offer our guests: drinks, ice cream, coffee, homemade cakes and pies, snacks, decorations, flowers and small gifts.

The chef will spoil you with hearty home cooking and culinary specialities. For your events, we offer a barrier-free hall (divisible) with up to 220 seats. A stage with professional sound equipment is available for musical accompaniment. An e-charging station for cars and bicycles is also available. Generous parking areas, bus parking spaces and garage spaces for motorbikes are available.

One of the most impressive landscape features are the steep rocky sites of the Donauleiten. Light pine tree and oak tree populations colonise these habitats. The reptile fauna is especially dense, but also the eagle owl, the largest owl species, feels home here. With a bit of luck, an attentive observer can watch it during the nightly prowl.

If you are extra attentive, you might catch a glimpse of one of the geobionts. A few lizard species, amongst them the green lizard, swish through the bushes. With its 35cm length it is one of the largest local lizards. The name relates to the green colour of the adult animals. In the mating season the blue-colored throat of the males is particularly striking. In the Donauleiten they prefer rocky areas and piles of stones with plenty of bushes and briars, where they can hide from their natural enemies

A large part of the nature reserve belongs to the nature conservancy association.

1. BURGSTALL

The castle ruin Harschheim ("Burgstall") was built in the beginning of the 13th century. Only three decades later, in 1530, the building was totally decayed. Therefore, stone masses of the ruin have been taken down and were used to build the chapel St. Pankraz.

2. PANKRAZKAPELLE

A church of the monastery Engelszell was located near the chapel St. Pankraz where a healing source can still be found. The church was also a place of pilgrimage.

3. HOCHWURZEN

From Hochwurzen one can enjoy an impressive view to the north- to the popular Rannatal.

4. FORSTSTRASSE mit STEINBOCK

The valley of the small Kößlbach between Passau and Schlögen has created a V-shaped erosion valley.

5. KEHRE

When you follow the way up the valley and cross the characteristic block trains, it is possible to hear the small Kößlbach rushing.

6. TOTHOLZ

Dead wood is a basis for new life. It is also an essential habitat and food source for different species of plants and animals.

It is allowed to:
• To walk and hike through the nature reserve
• To rest and relax
• To pick berries and mushrooms for your own need

It is forbidden to:
• To leave the path
• To camp
• To use a car, motorbike and bicycle
• To pick more than 2 kilos of berries and mushrooms per day
• To make a fire
• To throw your rubbish away
• To destroy facilities, fences etc.
• To enter prohibited areas

The bike repair shop is located directly on the Danube cycle path from Passau to Vienna.

E-bikes as well as trekking bikes for young and old can be rented.
Booking is very straightforward!
Simply call and book in advance.
004377178037 or 004367761166508 Mr. Thomas

Info: TOKU - Tourismus und Kultur im Donautal Waldkirchen-Wesenufer
Tel.: +43 (0) 77 18 / 72 55-11 od. 12

A g’wachsene Kulturlandschaft…   
Der Hochsauwald zeichnet sich durch stark bewaldete Höhenrükken aus, ein raues Klima mit hohen Niederschlagsmengen prägt die Gegend. Es ist eine gewachsene Kulturlandschaft mit einem Mosaik aus landwirtschaftlichen Nutzflächen und unterschiedlicher Bewaldungsintensität. Durch Dörfer, Weiler und viele Siedlungssplitter wird der ländliche Charakter des Sauwaldes verstärkt. Von weitem schon erkennt man sie durch die hohen Spitzen ihrer Kirchtürme. Viele historische Kulturlandschaftselemente lassen sich entdecken. Beispiele dafür sind Gattersäulen, Lesesteinhaufen und Schwöllen (kleine Teiche). Mit den weitgehend naturnah erhalten gebliebenen Bachläufen, die eine Kostbarkeit für die Region darstellen, ergibt sich ein recht harmonisches Landschaftsbild.

Oberösterreich ist vielerorts als ein wahres Schlaraffenland überliefert. Wie ein junger Bursch sich hier wie "Im Schlaraffenland" fühlte, wird in der Donau-Sage erzählt.

Information: Marktgemeinde Engelhartszell
Tel.: +43 (0) 77 17 / 80 55-16

Der Natur was zurückgeben…    
Die Uferbereiche der Donau sind durch verschiedene wasserbauliche Maßnahmen stark vom Menschen beeinflusst. Die Donauschlucht bietet naturgemäß aufgrund ihres tief eingegrabenen Engtals wenige Austandorte. Durch Flussregulierungen, Verbauungen und Anpflanzung von standortfremden Bäumen (z.B. Fichten) sind aber auch die passenden Standorte gefährdet oder verloren gegangen. Heute finden sich nur noch Reste von Auenlandschaften. Die Au hat aber wichtige Funktionen im Landschaftshaushalt wie Wasserrückhalt, Selbstreinigung, Gewässerstabilisierung und ist Lebensraum für bedrohte Tier- und Pflanzenarten. Die Ufer der Donau sind fast durchgehend mit Blockwurf abgesichert und oft nur noch von schmalen Gehölzstreifen begleitet. Heute werden wieder vermehrt Flachwasserzonen und Sedimentationsflächen wie Inseln, Buchten und Schotterbänke geschaffen. Viele dieser Projekte sind in Planung oder Umsetzung, in Engelhartszell und Kramesau wurden solche bereits durchgeführt.

Oberhalb der Burg Rannariedl stand einst ein mächtiges Schloss, das von Feinden ausgeraubt und niedergebrannt wurde - wie der Sohn des Ritters überlebte und was eine tapfere Magd mit der ganzen Geschichte zu tun hat, lesen Sie in der Donau-Sage "Der verborgene Schatz".

Information: Gemeindeamt
Tel.: +43 (0) 77 14 / 80 55

Futter aus dem Wald...   
Der Wald diente dem Menschen nicht nur für den Holzabbau, sondern war lange Zeit auch als Weidegebiet genutzt. Bis etwa in die Mitte des 19.Jahrhunderts war die Waldweide üblich. Im Hochsauwald wurden dabei aus lose geschichteten Steinen Mauern zur Abgrenzung der Weidegebiete errichtet. Auch die Gattersäulen (aufgestellte Steinsäulen, in denen ein Gatter verankert wurde) zeugen noch aus dieser Zeit. Diese Art der Waldnutzung und die damals üblichen Holzschläge für Brenn- und Bauholzgewinnung sowie für die Köhlerei führten zu einer starken Verwüstung der Wälder. In der später folgenden geregelten Waldwirtschaft wurden die Fichte und die Tanne die bedeutendsten Baumarten. Für die Fichte gilt das noch heute, obwohl sie vielfach an Standorten angepflanzt wird, an die sie natürlicherweise nicht hingehört. In der Umgebung von Vichtenstein dagegen ist die Fichte autochton (heimisch), was sich im Namen und im Wappen der Gemeinde widerspiegelt.

Am Haugstein steht heute eine Kapelle, die einen Jäger vor Maria kniend zeigt - warum die Kapelle dort errichtet wurde, weißt die Donau-Sage "Wundersames am Haugstein".

In our cozy and stylish restaurant, we delight your palate and your eyes with classics - freshly prepared with seasonal, regional products - from Austrian and Persian cuisine.

Welcome to the Schütz Art Café - where art meets pleasure.

Let yourself be enchanted by the unique combination of contemporary art and classic coffee house culture in a stylish ambience. Surrounded by inspiring works of art, you can enjoy the finest home-made pastries - the best far and wide -, delicious snacks, exquisite drinks and ice cream that you won't soon forget. Our friendly team is passionate about making you feel at home from the very first moment.

Whether as an enjoyable start or a relaxing end to your visit, a visit to the Schütz Art Museum is the perfect way to round off your experience. The museum invites you not only to view art, but also to experience it intensively - in dialog with international artists and by taking a look behind the scenes of their work.

Schütz Art Café & Museum - a place to linger, enjoy and discover.

The Collegiate Church has a steeple that rises 76 meters tall and is the most superb example of rococo architecture in Austria. The Church was built between 1754 and 1764 and is decorated with valuable art items by Johann Georg Üblher, Joseph Deutschmann and Bartolomeo Altomonte. The modern mural painting on the nave ceiling was created by Prof. Fritz Fröhlich in 1957.

The Convent is especially popular for its excellent Engelszell Monastery Liquors, the Trappist beers and its latest and highly acclaimed feat: The new Engelszell Trappist Cheese!

Guided tours for groups (8+) by prior arrangement only:
- Small tour of the Collegiate Church with complimentary
liquor sampling; takes approx. 30 minutes.
Rate: Euro 1.45 per person
- Grand tour of the Collegiate Church with visit to the permanent
exhibition and complimentary liquor sampling;
takes approx. 60 minutes.
Rate: Euro 2.20 per person


TRAPPISTBEER-BREWERY

Trappist Brewery St. Engelszell is the most recent addition to the portfolio of Trappist breweries that were historically «limited» toTrappist breweries in Belgium, Holland, and France. Although the Trappist monks of St. Engelszell follow the traditional definition of Trappist beers (big, strong, complex) they have decided to use their local idiosyncrasy and history to create two distinctly different recipes. Both recipes are inspired by the unique landscape around the monastery. By incorporating locally grown ingredients St. Engelszell expresses its deep belief that such products should be produced in complete harmony with highest ethical and ecological standards.