Haibach ob der Donau: Hiking, Views and Roman History

Haibach ob der Donau offers several reasons to plan a trip: a longer hike, nature topics along the trail, viewpoints and historical sites. To help you choose, it can be useful to decide first what you would like to focus on. Should the route itself be the main attraction, are you interested in learning about nature, or would you like to explore archaeological and church history?

Hiking with different points of focus

The Ciconia Trail is 11.2 kilometres long, challenging and takes 3 hours and 15 minutes to walk. Natural ground makes up 64 percent of the trail. The distance, difficulty rating and walking time provide a clear basis for planning; the proportion of natural ground adds information about the trail surface. Along the trail, 20 stations provide information about flowering plants, the insect world, local predators, geology and life underwater. There are also views of the beautiful Danube Valley. This means the hike itself is complemented by nature-related topics and landscape views.

Other trails stand out for their specific route features. The Fuchsbachtal circular trail crosses the Roman Bridge and follows the Fuchsbach stream along a forest path. Hiking trails lead directly from the municipality of Haibach ob der Donau to the ruins of Stauf Castle. The hike to Kalvarienberg is also worth considering as a comparison with the Ciconia Trail: it is rated easy, suitable for pushchairs and offers 360-degree panoramic views. The details therefore clearly distinguish between a challenging trail with a longer walking time and a hike rated easy.

Views from Kalvarienberg and the Danube

At 562 metres, Kalvarienberg is the highest point in the municipality; a chapel is located there. The distant views stretch from the Bohemian Forest to the Dachstein. When choosing an excursion, you can therefore consider both the views and a named site on the highest point. Another viewpoint is Schlögen Danube Viewpoint, which looks out over the Schlögen Danube Loop. The two destinations offer different types of scenery: distant views from Kalvarienberg and a view of the Danube Loop.

Schlögen Roman Park and St. Nikola Church

From the car park in Schlögenleiten, a walk of about half an hour leads to Schlögen Roman Park and two excavation sites. By comparison, the Ciconia Trail takes considerably longer, at 3 hours and 15 minutes; the times given refer to different destinations. The Roman fort in the park was built around 170 AD. The site remained in use well into the 5th century. The history of the site therefore extends beyond the construction of the fort.

St. Nikola Church is also a point of interest for visitors interested in culture. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. Early Gothic remains suggest that a stone chapel stood here in the mid-13th century. The dedication and the building history are two separate aspects: the dedication names the church’s patron saint, while the structural remains indicate the presence of an earlier chapel.

Discover more destinations: Eferding, Hinzenbach, Hartkirchen, Stroheim, Sankt Marienkirchen An Der Polsenz, Aschach An Der Donau, Prambachkirchen, Alkoven.

Go to the main travel overview: Eferding.