Vilshofen an der Donau reveals itself through its history, the Danube Promenade and excursions into the surrounding countryside. Around the town square, monuments and architectural details tell more than 1,200 years of local history. Along the promenade, you can encounter works of art that take up the city’s life with the Danube as their theme. You can shape your stay around the old town, culture and nature, and set aside time for individual interests.
Town history around the town square and on guided tours
A walk around the town square brings Vilshofen’s more than 1,200-year history to life through its monuments and architectural details. Guided tours offer different points of focus: you can explore the birthplace of writer Heinrich Lautensack and learn stories and legends about the brewer Josef Groll and Knight Tuschl. For enquiries and bookings for guided tours, you can contact the Vilshofen an der Donau Tourist Information Office by email or phone; ask them what options are currently available. As the relevant arrangements may change, it is best to confirm your plans with them.
For a closer look at the history of beer, focus on Joseph Groll. The master brewer from Vilshofen an der Donau went to Pilsen in 1842 to brew “Pils” for the first time at the newly established Bürgerliches Brauhaus. The “In the Footsteps of Pilsner Inventor Joseph Groll” town walk complements the BierUnterwelten and includes eight stops. The route takes you through the old town, among other places, to Groll’s birth and death house, his first home of his own in the Vilsvorstadt and the Groll Chapel in the Kreppe. The tour offering may change; check the dates if you would like to plan the walk.
Danube Promenade: art and festival grounds
During a walk along the Danube Promenade, you can see the artworks “Danube Wave Meets Vils Wave,” “Danube Tree” and “Time Arch.” Their themes reflect the city’s life with the Danube. The promenade also serves as an event venue: it is the festival grounds for the “Floating Christkindl Market” and the “Danube in Flames” Promenade Festival. If you would like to include one of these festivals in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.
Architecture, monastery shop and ginkgo park
The Benedictine Abbey of Schweiklberg is situated above Vilshofen. Its church is characterised by Art Nouveau and has a slight Neo-Baroque influence. The Schweiklberg Monastery Shop is another connection to the abbey: it sells products made in-house, including beeswax candles and Schweiklberger Geist. The latter is considered a tried-and-tested home remedy for many decades and is known as far afield as Siberia; confirm the shop’s current details before visiting. You should confirm the monastery shop’s current details before visiting.
Another place to visit in town is Ginkgo Park and its play garden. The play garden has swings, slides, seesaws and climbing frames; if needed, enquire in advance about the current facilities. If a particular piece of equipment is important for your visit, check beforehand what is currently available.
Vils Narrow Valley and routes with different focuses
The Vils Narrow Valley nature reserve has become a local recreation area thanks to its scenic and peaceful surroundings. There are different cycling routes to choose from: the Apple Cycling Route is a circular route connecting Vilshofen, Aldersbach, Ortenburg, Fürstenzell, Neuhaus, Ruhstorf and Passau. The Vilshofen–Schweiklberg Chapel Cycling Tour leads, among other places, to the Groll Chapel on the Vils in the Kreppe. 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 two routes therefore differ in their stated destinations: a circular route through several towns on the one hand, and chapels and Schweiklberg as stops on the other. Check local conditions before setting off.
Discover more destinations: Breitenberg, Tiefenbach, Untergriesbach, Passau, Tettenweis, RotthalmĂĽnster, Salzweg, Neukirchen Vorm Wald.
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