Windberg combines a medieval village character with monastic heritage, an extensive network of hiking trails and opportunities for paragliding. Its landscape, architectural history and outdoor activities offer different starting points for planning a trip. Particularly striking are the village’s elevated setting and its panoramic views of mountains, valley and the Danube plain.
Getting There and Elevation
Bus route 14, operated by Verkehrsgemeinschaft Straubinger-Land, runs directly from Straubing to Windberg. If you plan to use this service, check the current timetable before setting off and plan your journey around the departure times.
The medieval village lies on a hill at an elevation of 420 metres. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Bavarian Forest mountains, the Bogenbach valley and the Danube plain. These three landscapes give the village a broad scenic setting: mountains, valley and plain. Windberg can therefore be understood not only through its elevation, but also through its varied landscape.
Monastic Ensemble and Church Architecture
The 12th-century Romanesque basilica, its Rococo furnishings and the Premonstratensian monastery shape Windberg’s historic character. Other historic buildings cluster around the basilica and monastery. Alongside the basilica, the largely preserved medieval monastic ensemble includes the prelature, the judicial office building and the craftsman’s house.
Construction of Windberg’s monastery church began around 1140 and was completed around 1250 with the erection of the tower. The Romanesque design and Rococo furnishings represent distinct art-historical styles. Together with these construction dates, they provide several points of reference for the church and monastery’s history, rather than reducing it to a single construction date.
Another historic landmark is the Catholic pilgrimage church of the Holy Cross. Inside is the 28-step Holy Staircase, a replica of the staircase in the Palace of Pilate. The Way of the Cross from Windberg to the Holy Cross was inaugurated in 1887. The staircase and the Way of the Cross reflect different aspects of pilgrimage: a specific feature inside the church and the historic route connecting the two places.
Hiking and Paragliding
Windberg offers an extensive network of hiking trails, as well as opportunities for paragliding and a paragliding school. These are different ways to enjoy the area: you can plan a trip around exploring the landscape on foot or take an interest in paragliding. If you have a particular hike in mind, it is advisable to check the current condition of the trails; for flights, check what is currently available.
More Places to Explore in Straubing-Bogen
Other places in the wider Straubing-Bogen destination offer their own cultural and scientific attractions. Bogenberg is one of Bavaria’s oldest Marian pilgrimage sites still in active use. Every year at Pentecost, the Holzkirchen Candle Pilgrimage takes place at its pilgrimage church.
The Bogenberg District Museum explores the history of the Bavarian lozenges: from the Counts of Windberg-Bogen and their use by the Wittelsbach dynasty and in the Bavarian coat of arms, to their role as a symbol of Bavaria. The museum also presents Bogenberg as the Holy Mountain of Lower Bavaria. For a different perspective, the Bayerwald Xperium invites visitors to discover natural phenomena and the natural sciences for themselves at more than 100 hands-on experiment stations.
Discover more destinations: Rattenberg, Ascha, Neukirchen, Wiesenfelden, Atting, Schwarzach, Mitterfels, Kirchroth.
View the wider travel overview: Straubing-Bogen.
