189
0 Kloster Weltenburg
Bavaria; 93309
With a sumptuous Baroque chapel
designed by the Asam brothers and
excellent beer courtesy of the world’s
oldest abbey brewery (tours Apr–Oct:
open Sat & Sun), the Benedictine Abbey
of Weltenburg is well worth a visit.
However, its beautiful setting on a
tight bend of the Danube at the
western end of the Donaudurchbruch
is undoubt edly the highlight here.
The most popular way to arrive is
on a boat trip (late Mar–Oct) through
the wooded gorge from Kelheim.
ª Return to Kelheim, following
Regensburger Strasse on the south
bank of the Danube to the B16,
before taking the road via Rohr in
Niederbayern to Alzhausen. Here,
the road continues via Rottenburg
an der Laaber to Landshut.
q Landshut
Bavaria; 84028
The broad main streets of Landshut’s
handsome old town are lined with
fine gabled houses overlooked by the
slender 427-ft (130-m) high brick
tower of the Gothic St. Martinskirche
(closed Mon–Fri). The Stadtresidenz
(open daily, guided tours), or town palace,
has a lovely inner courtyard in Italian
Renaissance style. Looming over the
town is Burg Trausnitz (open daily),
the ancestral castle of Bavaria’s royal
family, the Wittelsbachs.Hop-growing
The Hallertau district between
Kelheim and Landshut is the
world’s largest hop-growing region.
Hops are climbing plants, and the
distinctive posts and wires of hop
fields enable the plant to grow high.
Flowers from the female plant are
used in the brewing process.DAY TRIP OPTIONS
Ingolstadt and Eichstätt are good
bases for day trips.Art and architecture
Explore Ingolstadt’s 1 historic old
town, then head to Neuburg an der
Donau 2 to admire the impressive
castles of the Counts Palatinate
before continuing via the pilgrimage
church at Bergen to the delightfulcathedral city of Eichstätt 4.Head west from Ingolstadt on the B13.
From Neuburg an der Donau, follow
signs for Eichstätt and Bergen. From
Bergen, follow signs to Eichstätt on the
B13. Return to Ingolstadt on the B13.Photographer’s treat
Follow the fascinating dinosaur
trail in and around Eichstätt 4before heading to inspect the
spectacular Jurassic fossils at
Eichstätt’s Jura Museum in the
attractive castle of Willibaldsburg.
Next, head to Solnhofen to admire
the impressive limestone crags,
the Zwölf Apostel 5.Head west toward Solnhofen along
the Altmühl Valley to reach Solnhofen,
returning by the same route.VISITING LANDSHUTParking
The well-marked parking lot beneath
the City Center mall is convenient for
the old town’s main sights.
Tourist Information
Altstadt 315, 84028; 0871 92 20 50;
http://www.landshut.de; Mar–Oct, Nov–Feb:
closed SunBREWERIESSample the local brew at the
Schneider-Weisse brewery’s Weisses
Brauhaus (Emil-Ott-Strasse 3; 09441 70
50; http://www.weisses-brauhaus-kelheim.de)
in Kelheim or at Kloster Weltenburg’s
Klosterschenke (Asamstrasse 32,
Weltenburg; 09441 675 70; http://www.
klosterschenke-weltenburg.de), where
the malty Barock Dunkel is a speciality.EAT AND DRINKAROUND BEFREIUNGSHALLE
Gasthof Berzl inexpensive
A traditional, family-run inn next to the
Altmühl gate, this place offers excellent
meat and homemade sausages.
Hafnergasse 2, 93309 Kelheim (east of
Befreiungshalle); 09441 14 25;
http://www.gasthof-berzl-kelheim.deLANDSHUT
Restaurant Stegfellner moderate
Tucked above a Gothic vaulted shop,
this restaurant serves Bavarian cuisine.
Altstadt 71, 84028; 0871 319 11 33;
closed Sun
Other options
Coffee with cake is a German ritual and
can be enjoyed at Café-Conditorei
Belstner (Altstadt 295, 84028; 0871
221 90; http://www.cafe-belstner.de)Left Picturesque Kloster Weltenburg on the
Danube near KelheimDRIVE 17: Jurassic Crags and Feudal Fiefdoms
Above Pretty staircase in Burg Trausnitz, LandshutEat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €40