Danube-Schmiech Nature Experience Trail

From the parking lot at the outdoor pool, head south, pass the entrance, and go steeply downhill. At the bottom, on the right at the edge of the woods, is the clay workshop. The spring outlet supplies the water for shaping figures directly at the workplace. At the end of the path, we follow the gravel path to the left. After about 500m of walking, you can find the fairy tale pavilion on the left. The path forks after about 250 meters; here we keep straight on the driveway, which later bends right returning and leads us over a path to a bridge over the Schmiech. Keep left behind the bridge and take a break on the bench at the Schmiech mouth. We walk back along the same path to the wide gravel path. Here, we keep right and go ahead to the edge of the slope.

Km 1.6
Before the small forest, the path turns right, and we walk up the slope to Nasgenstadt. The path runs along the outskirts by pastures and orchards to Kapellenstraße. This continues straight into the village, past St. Wendelin's Chapel until after about 500m on Kapellenstraße turning right into Annagasse, which leads back to the Danube. Along the Danube, we walk left through the meadow between trees to a staircase leading on to the Danube bridge. In Nasgenstadt itself, a small detour to the Catholic parish church St. Peter and Paul is worthwhile.

Km 3.5
Behind the Danube bridge, go right past the funken fire square and along the river to the place where until April 1945 the Danube bridge stood, before it was blown up at the end of the war. At low water, you can still clearly see the remains in the river. Following the left bend, we turn right onto the meadow path after about 100 m before the large poplars.
The path now continues for about 1 km between fields and meadows alongside the Danube and becomes more and more a path. Here, we are in the beaver's realm. Its trampling paths for foraging cut through the tall grass again and again. The collapsing underground tunnels can unexpectedly tip tractors that move too close to the bank. Hikers should also be cautious.

Km 4.9
More information about the beaver is explained at the information board placed here. Shortly beyond the board, at the end of the adjacent field, a grassed meadow path turns left, away from the Danube.
We again join a gravel path that bends left uphill through a wooded hollow path towards Berg. Here we find an information board explaining the change in agriculture.
Those who need refreshment continue left to the Ernsthof inn. Those who want to continue walk right after the small climb along the edge of the field wood, further westwards, between the direct catchment area of the Danube with its meadows and renatured areas and the fields of the Berg district.

Km 5.8
The Danube renaturation is explained on the next board.
On the trace path, newly created as part of land consolidation, we walk upriver at mid-altitude towards Berg.
Information panels about the water balance and landscape history are along the path.
On the opposite Donau side, the Donautal industrial area with the Schlecker company headquarters and the Sappi paper and pulp mill comes more and more into view. Why and when this factory settled exactly here is explained on the next board.

Km 6.8
By now we have reached the outskirts of Berg and go straight ahead on Brückenstraße past the Berg gauge. The board here informs about flood protection.

Those needing a break continue straight into town to the country guesthouse & Flair Hotel Zur Rose or the brewery restaurant of the Berg Brewery, but the hiking trail continues right over the Danube bridge. On the other side, the gravel path bends right back toward the river, and we walk along this, over the meadow path again left, downstream along the Danube.

Km 8
After the municipal sewage treatment plant, turn left up to the Schlecker headquarters administration building.
Following the main path left, go about 600m right along the fence in front of the impressive glass building. The path then leads over the Schmiech bridge, turn right behind the bridge. After about 300 m, there is an opportunity to bathe tired feet in the Schmiech, a stone staircase provides access to the river and offers seating.
Refreshed for the last climb, continue and ascend the hill on the left again at the clay workshop with its spring to our starting point at the outdoor pool.