Danube Upper Austria

Slowly it flows along, the Danube – one of Europe's greatest storytellers. Those who pause and listen to its gentle whisper are told of long-gone days and the vitality and changeability of the ten countries it connects. It tells of mighty rulers and simple craftsmen, of impressive stages and orally transmitted legends. Looking back into the past, we especially recall the Romans who built the Limes, the protective wall against the northern peoples, along the Danube. Many sites of Roman structures – such as the small fort in Schlögen or, of course, Lauriacum near Enns – can still be admired today. The mighty Habsburgs used the river as an important traffic route in the Danube monarchy. Empress Sisi, for example, made her bridal journey by ship on the Danube from Passau to Vienna, where she was joyfully awaited by her Franz-Josef. Mermaids, Danube princes, and moss women – many inhabitants of the Danube region swear they have seen these fabulous beings in the waves of the Danube. It is no coincidence that an extensive cycle of legends revolves around this region. And who knows, maybe she really exists, the mermaid Isa of Jochenstein...

The long journey that the Danube takes from its source to its mouth is exemplarily represented in Engelhartszell, in the water adventure park Mini-Danube. All important stations – the unique Schlögen Danube bend, for example, or the Iron Gate – are schematically and easily understandable depicted. In the Stockenhuber nursery in Engelhartszell, the agricultural roots are also acknowledged. The organic nursery places special emphasis on old varieties of fruits, vegetables, and grains. The Hofkirchen labyrinths focus on materials from the region. Original plants and stones make this place a special powerful spot, allowing visitors a connection to nature and to themselves.

Both in the past and today, the Zille – a wooden boat with a flat hull – is a popular and practical means of transportation on the Danube. In the Upper Austrian Danube region, you can find the last two Zille builders of Austria, true masters of their craft, who also have many stories to tell about the traditional profession of boatmen. The permanent exhibition "The Zille" was recently opened at the Hotel & Seminarkultur Wesenufer, highlighting this unique craftsmanship.