Discover Pfatter: floodplain, circular trail and boatmen’s church

Pfatter is best discovered through its natural surroundings and local history: the Pfatterer Au lies north of the town, the marked “Alte Donau” circular trail starts and ends in Pfatter, and the small boatmen’s church on the edge of town recalls Pfatter’s former role on the Danube. Landscape, outdoor activity and traces of the past thus offer distinct ways to explore the area.

Nature in the Pfatterer Au and along the Alte Donau

North of Pfatter, the Pfatterer Au encompasses river-valley meadows, former river channels with silted-up areas, and floodplain forests. The area is a breeding, stopover and wintering ground for numerous endangered bird species, and is of national importance. The Eurasian curlew is the flagship species of the floodplain. Its presence and conservation status may change over time. The floodplain is therefore defined both by its variety of habitats and its importance for birds.

The “Alte Donau” circular trail

The marked “Alte Donau” circular hiking trail near Pfatter is approximately 8 km long. The start and finish point is the town hall on Haidauer Straße. The trail markers and circular route provide a clear framework for navigation; the route ends where it began.

The trail follows easy sections, some gravel and some paved, and is not necessarily suitable for strollers. Check current trail conditions before setting out. Numerous waterbirds can be observed along the section beside the Alte Donau as far as Seppenhausener Straße. Which birds you see varies with the season and natural conditions.

The boatmen’s church and local history

The small boatmen’s church on the edge of Pfatter is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It recalls Pfatter’s former importance as a landing place for salt ships on the Danube. The dedication and the memory of salt transport offer a distinct perspective on Pfatter’s local history, in which the river played a role alongside the landscape.

More to explore in the wider Regensburg destination

In the wider Regensburg destination, Walhalla is located in Donaustauf. It is one of Germany’s significant neoclassical buildings and features a Doric exterior with 52 columns. Since 1842, this memorial and hall of fame has honoured notable Germans and figures associated with German history through marble busts and commemorative plaques. Its architecture and commemorative purpose offer two distinct points of interest.

From Regensburg’s Stone Bridge, passenger boats operated by Klinger and Wurm & Noé travel along the Danube to the foot of Walhalla from Easter to October. Check the specific sailing days before making plans. From the bus stop to Walhalla, there is also a walk of about 20 minutes up 358 steps.

The Nepal Himalaya Park in Wiesent, also in the wider Regensburg destination, offers a different combination of culture and nature. Across nine hectares, it brings together Asian culture and nature, with a Nepalese temple, a diverse perennial garden and numerous Asian works of art. The grounds include a Himalayan garden and a Chinese garden, as well as more than 6,200 different plant species. While Walhalla is defined by neoclassical architecture and commemoration, the focus in Wiesent is on gardens and the connection between Asian culture and nature.

You can tailor your search to the mix of local nature and regional culture you are looking for.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Wenzenbach, Bernhardswald, Holzheim, Obertraubling, Laaber, Alteglofsheim, Duggendorf, Nittendorf.

Back to the main travel guide: Regensburg.