Saal a.d.Donau: Marterl Trail, Cultural Routes and Cycling

In Saal a.d.Donau, a Palm Sunday tradition, cultural and historical circular trails, and cycling routes in various directions come together. Since 1996, a procession featuring life-size wooden figures has made its way through the town on Palm Sunday; it commemorates the story of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you want to plan your trip around culture and outdoor activities, you will find a variety of ways to experience the area: a religious tradition, trails through Saal and the forest, and cycling routes leading beyond the town.

Circular Trails with Different Themes

The Saal a.d.Donau Marterl Trail is a circular route through the town and shaded woodland. It leads through and around Saal to 14 typical Bavarian roadside shrines, known as Marterl. The shrines have been carefully restored by hand and preserved. This trail therefore focuses on the monuments themselves. The Saal Walk follows a different theme: this cultural and historical circular trail passes historic buildings and cultural sites, from Obersaal through Untersaal and back to the town centre. The two circular routes differ in focus: one highlights the Marterl, while the other takes in the various parts of town and their cultural sites.

Cycling Routes, Rail Travel and the Weekly Market

From Saal, you can cycle the Danube Cycle Path as well as well-signposted cycle routes towards Abensberg and the Hallertau region, and into the Altmühltal. When planning your route, you can first decide whether the Danube Cycle Path or one of the signposted directions better suits your interests. Saal an der Donau railway station is on the Regensburg–Ingolstadt railway line. This is a useful reference point when planning your rail journey; check the timetable for your travel dates.

From 23 October 2025, the weekly market was scheduled to take place on Thursdays from 12 noon to 5 pm at Kirchplatz, next to the Raiffeisenbank. The planned selection included fresh produce, mainly from the region: organic meat, sausages and other meat products, vegetables and fruit, potatoes from the municipality, organic cheese, eggs, Italian products, pasta, honey, organic bread and baked goods. Individual products may vary depending on the vendor. If you would like to include the market in your travel plans, check the current date before visiting.

Nature and Culture in the Wider Kelheim Destination

The wider Kelheim destination offers additional nature and cultural attractions. The northern part of Kelheim district, including Kelheim, Essing and Riedenburg, lies within the Altmühltal Nature Park. The “Weltenburger Enge, Hirschberg and Altmühlleiten” nature reserve, located in Kelheim, encompasses the unique Danube Gorge. There are eleven hiking trails in the Weltenburger Enge nature reserve; a 13-kilometre hike leads from Essing via the Tatzlwurm, past the Klausenhöhlen caves and along the Celtic rampart to the Danube Gorge.

The cultural attractions in the wider Kelheim destination also offer a range of experiences. The Befreiungshalle Kelheim is a memorial commissioned by King Ludwig I to commemorate the victorious battles against Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation from 1813 to 1815. Prunn Castle is known as the place where an original manuscript of the Nibelungenlied was discovered. The Altmühltal Archaeology Park comprises 18 sites between Kelheim, Essing, Riedenburg and Dietfurt, offering insights from the Neanderthals to the Celts. It stretches for 39 kilometres; most of the sites are directly on the Altmühltal Cycle Path.

When looking for accommodation, consider which experiences you want to make the focus of your trip: Saal’s traditions and circular trails, or also the hiking and cultural attractions in the wider Kelheim destination. This will help you tailor the rest of your travel plans to the kind of trip you want. Check current market dates and train connections for your travel period.

Discover more destinations: Langquaid, Volkenschwand, Siegenburg, Kelheim, Neustadt an der Donau, Abensberg, Wildenberg, Rohr in Niederbayern

Back to the main travel overview: Kelheim.