the highlights of cycling from Ulm, Germany to Linz, Austria
After five hundred kilometres of cycling alongside the Danube River from Ulm, Germany to Linz, Austria, I thought I'd compile a list of 'typical' stages. A Tour de Danube for we slow wanderers.
1. The floating pathway:
Perhaps my favourite stage of the journey so far has been the section from Haibach an der Donau to Aschach an der Donau in Austria as it's so close to the river, you feel as if the path is floating downstream with you. For fifteen magical kilometres, there's only the river and steep sided densely forested hills echoing with birdsong. The exit from this pathway is no less spectacular with a view across river to a castle partially hidden in the mist enveloping the hill.
2. The Romantic Road:
The road from Donauworth to Neuburg an der Donau is only a short section of the famed Romantic Road, of course, but it's easily accessible for cyclists and closely follows the Danube. There are lots of small hills as the path leads through numerous villages, each resplendent with a white-painted church, a maypole still festooned with decorations, and stout houses. The views back across wheat fields to the Danube are delightful and there's always a whooping downhill after each climb.
3. Riding the levee:
Many kilometres of the journey between Ulm and Linz are devoted to ambling along a dirt path on the river levee. I love these sections. They offer, on one side, expansive views downstream of barges, cruise boats and swans while on the other side there's forest, or a stream, or wheat and rape fields, or a view of a distant church steeple. And you're riding through this rural wonderland atop an elevated platform.
4. Forest tracks: Ulm to Lauingen, Germany.
Not all of the route is beside the river, of course. The Eurovelo 6 path wanders along logging tracks through miles of quiet forest. It can get muddy and slippery, but the birdsong and a feeling of being alone in the bush makes up for any splattered lycra! The section just before Lauingen features little bridges over streams and wildflowers blooming white and yellow.
5. Cobblestone villages:
Sometimes it's seems as if there's a village or town every few kilometres, which is very handy if you feel hungry for cake or schnitzel. Each settlement is worthy of closer inspection, inevitably featuring a church or rathaus or monastery echoing with history. Perhaps my favourites towns so far have been Dillingen, Deggendorf and the much larger, but no less beautiful Passau. Certainly spend a day cycling through the streets and alleys of Passau and around the waterfront, where the Danube, the Inn River and the Llz River meet.
1. The floating pathway:
Perhaps my favourite stage of the journey so far has been the section from Haibach an der Donau to Aschach an der Donau in Austria as it's so close to the river, you feel as if the path is floating downstream with you. For fifteen magical kilometres, there's only the river and steep sided densely forested hills echoing with birdsong. The exit from this pathway is no less spectacular with a view across river to a castle partially hidden in the mist enveloping the hill.
2. The Romantic Road:
The road from Donauworth to Neuburg an der Donau is only a short section of the famed Romantic Road, of course, but it's easily accessible for cyclists and closely follows the Danube. There are lots of small hills as the path leads through numerous villages, each resplendent with a white-painted church, a maypole still festooned with decorations, and stout houses. The views back across wheat fields to the Danube are delightful and there's always a whooping downhill after each climb.
3. Riding the levee:
Many kilometres of the journey between Ulm and Linz are devoted to ambling along a dirt path on the river levee. I love these sections. They offer, on one side, expansive views downstream of barges, cruise boats and swans while on the other side there's forest, or a stream, or wheat and rape fields, or a view of a distant church steeple. And you're riding through this rural wonderland atop an elevated platform.
4. Forest tracks: Ulm to Lauingen, Germany.
Not all of the route is beside the river, of course. The Eurovelo 6 path wanders along logging tracks through miles of quiet forest. It can get muddy and slippery, but the birdsong and a feeling of being alone in the bush makes up for any splattered lycra! The section just before Lauingen features little bridges over streams and wildflowers blooming white and yellow.
5. Cobblestone villages:
Sometimes it's seems as if there's a village or town every few kilometres, which is very handy if you feel hungry for cake or schnitzel. Each settlement is worthy of closer inspection, inevitably featuring a church or rathaus or monastery echoing with history. Perhaps my favourites towns so far have been Dillingen, Deggendorf and the much larger, but no less beautiful Passau. Certainly spend a day cycling through the streets and alleys of Passau and around the waterfront, where the Danube, the Inn River and the Llz River meet.
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