The Thematic Trave-Guide Route of Emperors and Kings by Donau Niederösterreich

Tourist Info Bratislava Klobučnícka 2, 811 01 Bratislava, Tel.: +421 / 2 / 161 86 www.visitbratislava.eu, touristinfo@bratislava.sk Mon – Sun: 09.00–18.00

Regensburg – UNESCO World Heritage Site Located at the northernmost point of the Danube, Regensburg can look back on a history of over 2,000 years. Finds show that the city was already settled in the Stone Age. In 179 A.D. the Romans founded the legion camp „Castra Regina“, the camp by the River Regen. In the Middle Ages, the city became a significant trade metropolis as a result of its location on one of the most important trade routes to the East. In 1245 Regensburg became a free imperial city and extremely wealthy through the trade with faraway countries. In 1663 the Perpetual Diet was convened for the first time and was not ended until 1806, with Napoleon‘s conquest and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Today, splendid buildings in the Old Town still testify to the city‘s wealth and political influence in the Middle Ages and make it the best-preserved medieval city in Germany. In 2006, Regensburg‘s Old Town and the „Stadtamhof“ district were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Stone Bridge, built in the 12th century, the Cathedral, the only example of French Gothic in Bavaria, and Schloss Thurn und Taxis are particularly worth seeing. The historical houses, together with cosy street cafés and shops, shape the unique atmosphere of the pulsating Old Town and through this combination, give Regensburg the title of Germany‘s medieval wonder.

Passau Passau lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz and borders directly with Upper Austria. For six hundred years, the city of three rivers was an episcopal principality. After a town fire, Italian architects created the baroque backdrop of the Old Town in the 17th century. High towers and picturesque squares still shape the city‘s image. Winding lanes and romantic promenades on the banks of the river tempt you to take a walk through history. In the middle of the Old Town, three-domed St. Stephen‘s Cathedral rises up majestically, in which the largest cathedral organ in the world can be heard. Nearby, there are numerous sights, such as the New Bishop‘s Residence, the historical town hall, many churches and museums, and a former abbey. The beautiful Prince-Bishop Opera House on the Inn Bridge is a unique early classical building. High above the rivers towers the Veste Oberhaus, one of the largest preserved fortresses in Europe, and the pilgrimage church of Mariahilf. Various city walking tours and the three-river boat tour allow you to experience the special magic of the city. In Passau, national and international long-distance cycling paths cross, and the city is also one of the arrival and departure points for Danube cruises to the Black Sea. With its charm and atmosphere, Passau is one of the most beautiful and impressive Bavarian cities on the Danube.

Linz The European Capital of Culture 2009 looks back on an eventful history, and also towards the future. The baroque Hauptplatz is located next to very modern cultural buildings and will surprise you with its contrasts. As a result of its location right by the Danube, Linz has a special relationship with Europe‘s largest waterway. For example, the city received its Roman and Celtic names Lentia and Lentos from the bend of the river. Here, it changes its direction, just as the city is changing, and aims to change its visitors. Alongside a distinctive cultural scene, the unique city is also well known for its natural richness and extraordinary technological and architectural history. The cultural life is shaped by numerous theatres, the premium-class Bruckner Orchester, Europe‘s most modern opera house, many festivals, and exciting museums. Above the city towers the Linzer Schloss, which displays Upper Austrian technological and natural history, and special exhibitions. The Lentos Kunstmuseum presents discerning modern art and the Ars Electronica Center leads you into tomorrow‘s world. Forum metall displays the industrial side of the city: steel sculptures of world standing in the Donaupark. Above Pöstlingberg, with its pilgrimage church, is the Donausteig hiking trail. From here, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city and the Danube.

Vienna Vienna owes its appeal among tourists to the exciting combination of a nostalgic, imperial atmosphere and a highly creative cultural scene, which both offers the most current trends and assures the responsible preservation of a precious heritage and charming traditions. The architecture of the Dual Monarchy shapes the city‘s impressive image. Grand baroque buildings, Historicism („Ringstraße style“) and Art Nouveau, and the spacious urban structure make you forget that this is the capital of the Republic of Austria, a country with a population of only 8.4 million, and delight visitors in the romantic imperial city. It is not only the many buildings from the imperial era that make Vienna a city of beauty and art: Museums, collections, and world-class artwork can be seen here. These include the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Belvedere, the Albertina, and the Leopold Museum in the Museumsquartier. In addition, sights such as St. Stephen‘s Cathedral, the Hofburg, and Schönbrunn Palace tempt you to explore the city. Above all, Vienna also enjoys an international reputation as a city of music. In no other place in the world have so many composers of world standing lived. In addition to those who were born here, such as Schubert, Strauss, and Schönberg, Vienna was also once the home city of choice of Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms.

Bratislava Situated at the point where three cultures meet, archaeological finds from a Celtic settlement and a Roman fort are proof of the important intersection of trade routes and the strategical significance of the city as part of the limes romanus. The names of the Danube metropolis still testify to its eventful history: Whereas the Slovaks call their capital Bratislava, the city is called Pressburg in Austria. In addition, Bratislava was the capital of Hungary (1536-1783) during the Turkish siege of Budapest and is still called Pozsony in Hungarian. In St. Martin‘s Cathedral, ten Austro-Hungarian kings were once crowned, including Maria Theresa in 1741. You can still sense the past at every turn on a tour of the Old Town. Everywhere, fashionable cafés and restaurants with the famous, hearty Slovakian cuisine and excellent Slovakian wines will tempt you. Since 2010, the shopping and business centre River Park and Eurovea have connected the Old Town with the banks of the Danube. Futuristic architecture, spacious green areas, and numerous pubs and restaurants with a view of the Danube embody „urban city life“ in a way you would not have believed possible of a city that lay behind the Iron Curtain until 1989. In the centre of the metropolis is the arrival and departure point of the „Twin City Liner“, a high-speed catamaran that connects Vienna and Bratislava in just 75 minutes via the Danube.

Budapest A metropolis of millions, and a cultural and spa city, Budapest enchants its visitors in an almost magical way. It‘s not for nothing that the Hungarian capital is called the „Pearl of the Danube“: In 1873 both historical parts of the city, Buda and Pest, were unified with Old Buda to form today‘s Budapest. Buda describes the hilly district west of the Danube, and Pest the flat district to the east. The city will captivate you with its imperial-era charm and a unique city image with numerous sights. The historical Castle Quarter, a World Heritage Site that includes the Fisherman‘s Bastion, is a must-see. Culture lovers should not miss a visit to the Hungarian State Opera House, built in 1875 in the neo-Renaissance style. With the Jewish Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, the Opera House, and the old metro, Budapest will attract you with another part of the World Heritage Site. The Palace of Arts, whose Bartók Hall is famous for its excellent acoustics, is a jewel of modern architecture. With 120 thermal springs and baths from the times of the Turks and the great economic upswing, Budapest is also a popular spa destination. In addition, the unique location, the wonderful panorama from Gellért Hill, the architecture of the Belle Époque, the monuments from Roman and Turkish times, the Zoo (a listed building), the largest synagogue in Europe, and the many festivals make Budapest exceptional in Europa.

Tourinform Budapest Sütő utca 2, 1052 Budapest, Tel.: +36 /1 / 4388080 www.budapestinfo.hu, info@budapestinfo.hu Mon – Sun: 8.00–18.00

Tourist-Info Wien Albertinaplatz / Ecke Maysedergasse, 1010 Wien Tel.: +43 / 1 / 24 555, www.vienna.info, info@vienna.info Daily open from 09.00–19.00

than If the order is greater t register 25 Euro when you firs

Schönbrunn Palace As a World Heritage Site and Austria‘s most visited sight, Schönbrunn Palace is known around the world as the symbol of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The baroque artistic synthesis of the Palace and Gardens is mostly displayed in the original historical state. Along with a tour of the authentically furnished living and state rooms of the imperial family in the Palace, the Gardens also offer visitors numerous attractions. From the Maze to the Gloriette and the famous Zoo, to its own Children‘s Museum, the site invites you to take extensive exploration tours. In the Palace, 40 rooms are open to visitors. The tour begins with the living rooms of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, dating from the 19th century, and leads through the magnificent state rooms in the middle section to Maria Theresa‘s splendid apartments from the 18th century. On request, the garden apartments on the ground floor with their exotic murals from Maria Theresa‘s time can also be visited. The Children‘s Museum was established so that children can understand life in imperial times in a hands-on way. A walk up the zigzag paths to the café in the historical Gloriette rounds off a visit to the Palace perfectly.

Artstetten Castle The former family seat and summer residence of the imperial family, Artstetten Castle lies in a wonderful park. Even from a distance, visitors are greeted by the charming architecture of the building from the 13th century, with its seven characteristic towers. The Archduke Franz Ferdinand Museum is a major cultural and historical attraction, in which year after year, guests from all over the world follow the trail of one of the most fascinating personalities of the waning Dual Monarchy. The permanent exhibition „For Heart and Crown“ provides exciting insights into the life and work of the heir to the throne. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was not only a political reformer and progressive thinker of his time. He was also known as a collector and architect, as well as a loving husband and father. He and his wife Sophie, Duchess von Hohenberg, found their last resting place in the family crypt after their assassination in 1914 in Sarajevo. Also thoroughly recommended is a walk through the private castle park, one of the most important historical parks in Austria. Through Franz I, the „flower emperor“, the park gained importance for the first time from 1823. Today, the park is very attractive, with impressive, ancient trees, the bathing pavilion of Archduke Carl Ludwig, the two „Spitting Men“, and the Peony Paradise (in May and June). Reduced admission fee if this article is shown.

Calendar of Events

Donau Niederösterreich August to September

The Imperial Furniture Collection, Vienna Originally founded by Empress Maria Theresa as the Habsburgs‘ furniture depository in the strategically favourable location on Mariahilfer Straße, the museum is today one of the largest and most significant furniture collections in the world, with around 5,000 exhibits and its unique mixture of functions as a store, workshop, administrative body, and museum, as can be found nowhere else. Furniture culture from more than three centuries is displayed. The collection ranges from a presentation of imperial furniture to the most varied furnishing styles such as Biedermeier, Historicism, and Viennese Modernism, to contemporary Austrian furniture design of the 21st century. Temporary special exhibitions are dedicated to the achievements in architecture, design, and furniture of the 20th century, as well as to famous Habsburgs. The special Sis(s)i Path is unique, and leads you through the museum on the trail of Ernst Marischka‘s famous Sisi films. Until the 1970s, the Imperial Furniture Museum was an important supplier of furnishings for many films shot in Vienna. Whether these had an imperial or bourgeois atmosphere, good use was made of the wealth of furniture in the museum. Throughout the whole museum, you‘ll encounter rooms with reconstructed scenes from Sisi films in various languages time and again, and will find furniture that lent the films an imperial character.

Burgmuseum Clam Burg Clam bei Grein, Sperken 1, 4352 Klam Tel.: +43 / 7269 / 7217-0, www.burgclam.com 1st May – 31st October, daily open from 10.00–16.30 Clam Castle This unique destination is not a conventional museum, but rather an inhabited medieval castle. It was once in the possession of feared robber barons, and its art treasures can be admired today by visitors in their original historical place: the armoury full of suits of armour, the banquet table decked out with fine china, and the Gothic chapel with sacred woodcarving. Even the private residential rooms of the Counts of Clam, who have lived in and preserved the castle for 600 years, can be visited.

Publisher Grebennikov Verlag GmbH Immanuelkirchstr. 5 10405 Berlin Tel.: +49.(0)30 895 681 96 www.grebennikoff.de First edition March 2014

Tourismusverband Ostbayern

Grafenegg Festival www.grafenegg.com

Whit Monday

Bogen

Pfingstkerzenwallfahrt auf dem Bogenberg, www.bogen.de

Easter holidays

Wachau

Osterreigen Wachau www.wachau.at

Third weekend in July

Straubing

bluetone - Das Festival an der Donau, www.straubing.de

March to April

Wachau

Wachau GOURMETfestival www.wachau-gourmet.festival.at

After the second Friday in August

Straubing

Gäubodenvolksfest mit Ostbayernschau www.straubing.de

Marillenkirtag in Spitz www.spitz-wachau.com

Second Saturday in November

Kelheim

Maidult

Februar to March

Mohács

July

Hofmobiliendepot ∙ Möbel Museum Wien Andreasgasse 7, A-1070 Wien, Tel. :+43 / 1 / 524 33 57-0 info@hofmobiliendepot.at, www.hofmobiliendepot.at Tue – Sun: 10.00–18.00, U3 station Zieglergasse

Grafenegg

Spitz

Passau Tourismus e.V. End of April

Kohlbruck

Route of Emperors and Kings

Feuer&Flamme an Donau&Altmühl www.schifffahrt-kelheim.de Ungarisches Tourismusamt Buschoumzug

First Sunday in May

Passau

Trachtenfestzug in der Altstadt www.passauer-dult.de

March to April

Budapest

Budapester Frühlingsfestival www.budapesterspringfestival.com

Beginning of May

Passau

Orgelkonzert auf der größten Domorgel im Dom St. Stephan

June

Budapest

Wagner Tage im Palast der Künste www.mupa.hu/en/wagner-2014

June to July

Passau

Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau www.ew-passau.de

August

Budapest

Szigetfestival, www.szigetfest.de

WienTourismus

May

Donau Oberösterreich Passau-Schlögen

Rad total im Donautal, www.radtotal.at

May to June

Wien

Wiener Festwochen

End of June

Wien

Donauinselfest

Distribution through bookstores, tourist attractions and tourist information centres along the route. With the friendly support and cooperation of: ARGE Route of Emperors and Kings

September to Oct.

Wien

November to Dez.

Wien

Pentecost

Regensburg

Tage Alter Musik

May

Linz

LinzFest, www.linzfest.at

only with express permission of the publisher

July

Regensburg

Thurn und Taxis Schlossfestspiele Konzerte und Schauspiel im Schlosshof

July

Linz

Pflasterspektakel, www.pflasterspektakel.at

End of August

Regensburg

Herbstdult

September

Linz

Ars Electronica Festival, www.aec.at

November to Dez.

Regensburg

Christmasmarkets

September

Linz

voestalpine Clouds of Sound www.klangwolke.at

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Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, Silver Collection The Vienna Hofburg formed the centre of the Habsburg Empire for several centuries. Three museums provide historically authentic insights into the Habsburgs‘ courtly traditions and everyday life today. The Silver Collection on the ground floor displays an impressively wideranging collection of the imperial dinner service, and demonstrates courtly dining culture. The intimate presentation in the Sisi Museum, which was opened in 2004 for the 150th anniversary of the imperial couple and celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2014, gives detailed insights into very personal aspects of the Empress and does away with many myths surrounding her. The more than 300 exhibited objects in the museum include the original assassination file, a copy of part of her luxurious Court Salon Carriage, and the reconstructed Hungarian coronation dress. In the authentically furnished Imperial Apartments, Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth once lived and worked. The furnishings of the private chambers reflect Franz Joseph‘s modesty, and convey imperial splendour without extravagant pomp. Highlights of the tour, in addition to the study, in which Franz Joseph surrounded himself with numerous pictures and mementoes of family members, are the dressing-cum-exercise room of the beauty-conscious Sisi, and the banqueting hall with a table decked out with original tableware.

Schloß Schönbrunn, A-1130 Wien Tel. :+43 / 1 / 811 13-0, info@schoenbrunn.at, www.schoenbrunn.at Daily open from 08.30. Closing times vary depending on the time of year. Information available at www.schoenbrunn.at

Hungary On entering Hungary, the most scenic part of the Hungarian Danube opens up with the Danube Bend between Esztergom and Szendtendre. The walls of the former castle, Esztergom Basilica, and the awe-inspiring silhouette of the small town tower over the right bank of the Danube. The small town of Szentendre, with its Mediterranean atmosphere, is very popular with both artists and tourists. The town of Mohács is situated on the lower reaches of the Danube, which is primarily famous for the „Busójárás“, a custom where winter is buried and spring is greeted. In Budapest, the capital of Hungary, the river separates the two parts of the city, Buda and Pest. The only spa capital in the world has a beautiful location and offers numerous sights, such as the Castle Quarter with the Danube Panorama and Andrássy Avenue, all part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Parliament Building, St. Stephan‘s Basilica, the Millennium Monument on Heroes‘ Square, the City Park with Vajdahunyad Castle, Margaret Island, and much more. The Palace of Arts, the Opera House, and the Academy of Music offer music lovers unforgettable experiences. The Danube also formed the limes of the Roman Empire in Hungary. Along the approx. 500 km of the Pannonian limes, there are many small forts, watchtowers, and legion camps. The former routes for protection and travel now serve tourism.

Laotse said:

Slovakia Where the Morava flows into the Danube, the river enters Slovakia and flows – for a short while as an Austrian-Slovakian border river – to the capital of the young republic. There, at the foot of Bratislava Castle, the river reaches the Danubian Flat (Podunajská rovina) and flows eastwards as a SlovakianHungarian border river for 172 kilometres. The Danube only shapes the landscape of southern Slovakia – and even though its main course appears short, innumerable branches of the river meander for much longer through the fertile area. In this way, Europe‘s largest river island emerged between the Little Danube and the Danube: Žitný ostrov (Great Rye Island), with a length of 84 km and a breadth of 15-30 km. Diverse flora and fauna inhabit the unique forest and grassland area, which also has a special climate: As a result of its location, exposed to the Little Hungarian Plain, this area is one of the warmest and driest in Slovakia. In antiquity, the Danube was already an intersection of trade routes, which is visible in several Slovakian towns along the river: Galanta, Sereď, Komárno (on the Hungarian side: Komárom), and Nové Zámky alternate with small nature reserves until the river becomes the Hungarian Danube in marshland near Štúrovo (on the Hungarian side: Esztergom).

„A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.“

The Danube in Lower Austria On its 258 km-long journey through Lower Austria, the Danube creates the most varied landscapes from the west; from the Nibelungengau, steeped in history, the river flows into what must be the most charming river valley in Europe: The World Heritage Site of the Wachau is one of the oldest cultural landscapes in Austria and stretches from Melk to Krems. The area has cultural treasures and is an internationally renowned winegrowing area and meeting point for gourmets from all over the world. The neighbouring Krems valley and the Wagram are also famous for their wines. Here, an impressive loess layer winds through the area, a distinctive symbol north of the Danube, and offers a sublime view. Around the four towns of Traismauer, Tulln, Stockerau, and Korneuburg, stretch the further plains of the Tulln Danube area, whose historical venues and colourful summer stages will tempt you. From the imperial city of Vienna, the Danube finally flows into the Auland-Carnuntum area, past baroque Marchfeld palaces, the Archaeological Park Carnuntum, and the DonauAuen National Park. In Lower Austria too, numerous archaeological finds and remains of the wall testify to the Roman limes: in Mautern, the former settlement „Favianis“, in Zeiselmauer, formerly „Cannabiaca“ and above all in the area that is now Petronell, in which the Roman legion camp Carnuntum was set up around 15 A.D.

Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand-Museum, Schlossplatz 1, 3661 Artstetten Tel.: +43 / 7413 / 8006-0, www.schloss-artstetten.at Museum, Castle-park and Family-grave: from 1st April – 1st Nov museum daily 9.00–17.30, Castle-park daily 9.00–13.00

All journeys start with WWW.BUCH.TRAVEL

The Danube in Upper Austria Practically no other region is as varied as the Upper Austrian Danube area. Numerous, very diverse landscapes stretch from the historical episcopal city of Passau to the modern cultural city of Linz to Grein, the pearl of the Strudengau, and offer breathtaking sights and views of a legendarily beautiful area. Baroque monasteries and palaces shape the Danube, as do medieval castles and ruins, and scenic, historical towns. With its historical city centre and charming location by the Danube, Inn, and Ilz, Passau is a real highlight. Nestled between the „Donauleiten“, towering, forested slopes, the river makes its way eastwards. The first distinctive point on the route is the Trappist monastery of Engelszell, particularly famous for its liqueur production. The Schlögener Schlinge is a breathtaking spectacle of nature. The Danube is forced to take two incredible changes of direction by the prehistoric granite of the Bohemian Massif, and shows its most stunning side. Through the fertile Eferding Basin, it then flows past the Cistercian monastery of Wilhering, whose abbey church is one of Austria‘s most magnificent rococo buildings, and then on to Linz. In the European Capital of Culture 2009, the cultural life pulsates with the interplay between the modern art and technology museums, a distinctive music scene, and the historical Old Town.

Esztergom, Basilika

EARLYBOOKINGDISCOUN

Bratislava

Dürnstein on the Danube

The German Danube Between Regensburg and Passau, the Danube becomes a river connecting different peoples in Germany. Under Emperor Augustus, the river was already significant as a natural border of the Roman Empire, the so-called „wet limes“. The stretch of land has a wealth of towns and monasteries and was much shaped by the artwork of the Asam Brothers. Regensburg can look back on an eventful history of 2,000 years and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006. Thanks to its location on one of the most important trade routes to the East, Regensburg developed into an imperial city par excellence: Founded by Roman emperors, it was the home of the powerful Emperor Charles the Great and Frederick Barbarossa, and received the title of a free imperial city from Emperor Frederick II. Further down its course, the Danube leads to Straubing, the old ducal city, whose City Tower, a symbol of the city, offers a wonderful view of Straubing and the Gäuboden today. The lively city square, magnificent churches, and the Gäuboden Museum tempt you to take a walk through history. Vilshofen, the picturesque „small city of three rivers“, is situated at the point where the Vils, Wolfach, and Pfudrach flow into the Danube, on the southern edge of the Bavarian Forest. On the pointed headland between the Danube and the Vils, the narrow Old Town rises directly from the water, like a floating island on the river. From Passau, the Danube finally leads to Austria.

Kaiserappartements – Sisi Museum – Silberkammer Hofburg / Innerer Burghof, A-1010 Wien, Tel.: +43 / 1 / 533 75 70 info@hofburg-wien.at, www.hofburg-wien.at Daily open from 09.00–17.30 (July and August until 18.00)

A WORLD OF BOOKS FOR A WORLD OF TRAVEL

Danube loop at Schlögen

Bogen on the Danube

Prunn Castle, Altmühltal

Donauregion Oberösterreich

Wiener Wiesn-Fest

Sat bef Pentec. Friday after Corp. Christi Mid of Aug.

Donau in Flammen, www.donauinflammen.at www.donauschiffahrt.de

Vienna Christmasmarkets

October

Haibach ob der Donau

24h Wanderung, www.donauregion.at

Follow royal footsteps along the Danube

Tourismusverband Linz

Route Description and Map

Regensburg Tourismus GmbH

Calendar of Events

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Tourist Information Linz, Altes Rathaus, Hauptplatz 1, 4020 Linz Tel.: +43 / 732 / 7070 2009, www.linztourismus.at/en, tourist.info@linz.at May to Sep: Mon – Sat: 09.00–19.00, Sun and holidays: 10.00–19.00 Oct to April: Mon – Sat: 09.00–17.00, Sun and holidays: 10.00–17.00

Tourist-Information Passau, Rathausplatz, 94032 Passau Tel.: +49 / 851 / 95598-0, www.english.passau.de, Easter to September: Mon – Fri: 08.30–18.00, Sat, Sun, holidays: 09.00–16.00, October to Easter: Mon – Thu: 08.30–17.00, Fri: 08.30–16.00, Sat, Sun: 10.00–15.00

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Tourist Information Regensburg, Altes Rathaus, Rathausplatz 4 93047 Regensburg, Tel.: +49 / 941 / 507- 4410, www.regensburg.de Mon – Fri: 09.00–18.00, Sat 09.00–16.00, Sun and holidays: 09.30–16.00 (1st Nov to 31st March: 09.30–14.00, Sat during advent: 09.00–18.00)

Walhalla, Donaustauf