Discover Vilshofen an der Donau

Vilshofen an der Donau combines more than 1,200 years of town history with the Danube promenade, public art and routes that take in history, cycling and nature. A stroll around the town square, stories about brewmaster Joseph Groll and paths to chapels offer different points of interest. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you’d rather focus on exploring the town and its culture or give more attention to cycling routes and nature. These interests also give your search for a place to stay a clear focus.

Town history and Groll’s legacy

A walk around the town square brings Vilshofen’s more than 1,200-year history to life through its monuments and architectural details. On guided tours, you can explore the birthplace of writer Heinrich Lautensack and hear stories and legends about brewer Groll and Knight Tuschl.

The “In the Footsteps of Pilsner Inventor Joseph Groll” town walk is offered as a complement to the BierUnterwelten and comprises eight stops. Among other places, it leads through the old town to Groll’s birthplace and house of death, his first home of his own in the Vilsvorstadt district, and the Groll Chapel in Kreppe. Its historical story goes back to 1842: Joseph Groll from Vilshofen an der Donau went to Pilsen that year to brew “Pils” for the first time at the new Bürgerliches Brauhaus.

Requests and bookings for guided tours can be made by email or phone through the Vilshofen an der Donau Tourist Information Office. If you’re planning a tour, confirm the current arrangements directly with the office.

Art and events along the Danube

The artworks “Danube Wave Meets Vils Wave,” “Danube Tree” and “Time Arc” can be seen on a stroll along the Danube promenade. They explore town life with the Danube as their theme. The promenade is also the venue for the “Floating Christkindl Market” and the “Danube in Flames” promenade festival. If you’d like to plan your trip around one of these festivals, check the relevant event dates.

Discover cycling routes and nature

The Vilshofen–Schweiklberg Cycling Chapel Tour leads, among other places, to the Groll Chapel on the Vils in Kreppe, Vilshofen. Other stops include the Taferl Chapel on the left bank of the Vils, the Marien Chapel near Grafenmühle, the Hof Chapel in Wenig, the Hindinger Chapel in Walchsing, the Barbara Chapel on the right bank of the Vils, and Schweiklberg. The Apple Cycling Route offers a different focus: this circular route connects Vilshofen, Aldersbach, Ortenburg, Fürstenzell, Neuhaus, Ruhstorf and Passau. Before setting out, it’s worth checking the local conditions for your route.

The Vils-Engtal nature reserve has developed into a local recreation area thanks to its scenic, peaceful surroundings. This means that alongside cycling routes, nature and tranquility are also distinct themes to consider when planning your trip.

Schweiklberg: architecture and monastery shop

Above Vilshofen, the church of Schweiklberg Benedictine Abbey is characterised by Art Nouveau architecture, complemented by a subtle Neo-Baroque echo. The Schweiklberg monastery shop sells products made in-house, including beeswax candles and Schweiklberger Geist. It is considered a tried-and-tested home remedy that has been used for many decades and is known as far away as Siberia. Confirm current shop information before visiting.

A play garden in Ginkgo Park

Ginkgo Park has a play garden with swings, slides, seesaws and climbing frames. If you’re planning a trip with children, these play facilities can be a point of interest in their own right; the availability of individual pieces of equipment may change. Unlike the historical walks and chapel routes, the play garden offers a different focus when choosing activities.

In the wider Passau destination

The Bavarian Forest Museum Village in Tittling is part of the wider Passau destination. It is one of Europe’s largest open-air museums. Visitors can explore more than 100 residential and farm buildings from the Bavarian Forest, dating from 1580 to 1890, across 20 hectares. The museum village includes farmsteads, mills, sawmills, smithies, chapels and field monuments, as well as Germany’s oldest primary school, dating from 1666.

The wider Passau destination also offers a variety of landscapes: the Passau region is shaped by rivers, forests and thermal baths. Thermal springs renowned far and wide are located in Bad Füssing and Bad Griesbach. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between Vilshofen’s town history, art and cycling routes and other cultural and landscape highlights in the Passau destination.

Discover more destinations: Passau, Haarbach, Aidenbach, Fürstenstein, Bad Füssing, Ortenburg, Eging Am See, Büchlberg.

Go to the main travel overview: Passau.