Schönbühel an der Donau: Castle, Monastery and Danube Cycle Path

Schönbühel an der Donau combines architectural history with cycling and hiking routes.

Schönbühel Castle and former Servite monastery

Schönbühel Castle stands on steep rocks directly above the Danube. The former Servite monastery is situated on a rock in Schönbühel on the right bank of the Danube, 500 m downstream from the castle. It is located at the entrance to the Wachau, high above the Danube. The castle and monastery are distinguished both by their location on the river and by their architectural history.

Architectural history and special details

Schönbühel Castle was built around the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries and did not take on its present form until the 19th century. The former Servite monastery was built by Konrad Balthasar von Starhemberg between 1666 and 1674. The castle’s early construction, its later form and the monastery’s construction thus represent different historical periods.

The monastery also has distinctive architectural and decorative details. The Bethlehem Grotto is the only Austrian example of a replica of the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem. The Peregrinus Chapel was added in 1737; 30 years later, Johann Wenzel Bergl decorated it with Rococo frescoes. Thus, the chapel’s addition and its later decoration took place at different times, while the grotto stands out for its replica of the one in Bethlehem. Frescoes are wall paintings; Rococo refers to the style.

Cycling and hiking routes

The fifth stage of the Danube Cycle Path runs from Melk to Mautern and passes through Schönbühel an der Donau. Its route is Melk, Schönbühel an der Donau, Aggsbach, Aggstein, Rührsdorf, Rossatz-Arnsdorf and Mautern. This places Schönbühel on the route between Melk and the other places listed.

There are also connections to other routes on foot. The Welterbesteig stage from Melk to Aggsbach Dorf is about 16 km long; a historic farm track on the Welterbesteig then leads to Schönbühel. The Wachau Way of St James between the Göttweig and Melk abbeys is a 49 km spiritual pilgrimage route on foot. It continues via Hohenwarth to Schönbühel along routes No. 653 and 05. When planning, it is helpful to distinguish between a single stage of about 16 km and the 49 km Way of St James: these figures refer to different routes, not to the same section.

Transport information for your stay

The municipality of Schönbühel-Aggsbach is connected to Melk an der Donau by bus route 720, which runs every two hours. Check the current departures for the route before travelling. When planning your trip, you can consider the bus connection alongside the buildings and cycling and hiking routes as a separate point of reference.

Discover more destinations: Kottingburgstall, Laimbach am Ostrong, Maria Taferl, Weiten, Melk, Marbach an der Donau, Braunegg, Ruprechtshofen.

Back to the main travel overview: Melk.