Experience Kelheim: History, the Danube and nature

In Kelheim, the town’s history meets a river landscape: the Liberation Hall on Michelsberg hill, the historic old town and the Danube Gorge each offer a different perspective. There are also cycling and hiking routes, as well as boat trips on the Danube. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on culture, outdoor activities or experiencing the river landscape.

Town history on Michelsberg hill and in the old town

The Kelheim Liberation Hall is a memorial commissioned by King Ludwig I to commemorate the victorious battles against Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation from 1813 to 1815. Its construction involved two architects: Friedrich Gärtner began the work; following revised plans, Leo von Klenze completed the hall in 1863. The site and its history offer a tangible insight into the culture of remembrance in the 19th century.

To get to know Kelheim’s old town, consider taking the “Old Ducal Town of Kelheim” guided tour. This classic tour explores the town’s history and takes you to medieval town gates, ornate Renaissance façades, chapels and church ruins. Kelheim’s wine and beer traditions are also among the tour’s topics. Architectural history and local traditions feature side by side, without limiting the tour to a single chapter in the town’s history.

The Danube and the Danube Gorge

The Danube Gorge between Kelheim and Weltenburg Abbey is the deepest and narrowest section of the Bavarian Danube. The landing stage in Kelheim is the departure point for boat trips through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey. This lets you combine experiencing the river landscape with a trip to a specific destination. Timetables and restrictions due to water levels may vary, so check the boat service information before making plans.

There are also different ways to explore the landscape on foot and by bike. An alternative route on the Riedenburg–Kelheim stage follows the left bank downstream to the Liberation Hall on Michelsberg hill. From there, a winding footpath leads down into Kelheim’s old town. By contrast, the Altmühltal Panorama Trail stage reaches its destination in Kelheim by boat through the Danube Gorge. These descriptions refer to different routes and show how a trip to Kelheim can include a walk or a boat ride.

Cycle paths and longer tours

The Altmühltal Cycle Route runs for 166 kilometres from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim through Altmühltal Nature Park. It mostly follows a dedicated route away from motor traffic and offers asphalt and good-quality water-bound surfaces. Signposts and distance markers identify the cycle route.

For the return journey to their starting point or for intermediate trips along the Altmühltal Cycle Route, cyclists can use Deutsche Bahn trains and leisure buses equipped with convenient bike trailers. If you are planning several stages, this option may help with organising your tour; specific journeys depend on the available connections. The Danube Cycle Route offers another regional perspective: it passes through Weltenburg and Kelheim, with the old town and the Liberation Hall in Kelheim along the way. Check current route conditions before setting out.

Kelheim in its regional context

The wider Kelheim travel area also has a variety of natural and cultural attractions. The northern part of Kelheim district, including Kelheim, Essing and Riedenburg, lies in Altmühltal Nature Park. The “Weltenburger Enge, Hirschberg and Altmühlleiten” nature reserve, located in Kelheim, includes the Danube Gorge. There are eleven hiking trails in the Weltenburger Enge nature reserve, and one stage of the East Bavarian Way of St James leads there from Kelheim.

The Altmühltal Archaeology Park extends over 39 kilometres, and most of its sites are located right on the Altmühltal Cycle Route. It comprises 18 sites in total between Kelheim, Essing, Riedenburg and Dietfurt, offering insights ranging from Neanderthals to the Celts. Its regional reach makes it a different kind of excursion from the individual historic sites in Kelheim’s old town.

The southern part of Kelheim district offers a distinct landscape of its own: Abensberg, Neustadt an der Donau, Biburg, Rohr i. NB and Mainburg are part of the Hallertau, considered the world’s largest continuous hop-growing region. When choosing accommodation, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: exploring the town’s history, planning a boat trip, or considering longer cycling and hiking routes. These interests can help guide you towards a suitable base.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Abensberg, Langquaid, Aiglsbach, Saal An Der Donau, Painten, Neustadt An Der Donau, Siegenburg, Riedenburg.

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