Obernzell: Castle History, Art and the Danube

Obernzell combines castle history, a historic town center, public art and activities along the Danube. You can decide what matters most for your trip by focusing on specific themes: cultural history at the castle, a walk through town, or activities along the riverbank and in the Danube Valley. This makes it easy to match the destination’s character to your own travel plans.

The Castle and Historic Town Center

In the 16th century, Obernzell Castle was expanded from a simple fortress into a prestigious Renaissance palace. In the 17th century, it temporarily served as the seat of government for the Prince-Bishops of Passau after their residence burned down. The Knights’ Hall features richly appointed Renaissance interiors, including a Renaissance ceiling, a frieze of popes, a wooden cornice decorated with aphorisms, and a red marble fireplace. The windows offer views of the Danube and the historic market square.

Inside the castle, the Bavarian Danube Region Museum displays around 500 objects covering the region’s cultural history along the Danube, across an area of about 800 square meters. It opened on July 17, 2025. Another feature of the castle is its water installation, which depicts the Danube in the region and shows its course through the Obernzell market municipality.

The historic market square also showcases different phases of construction. Its layout dates back to the 13th century; in the 19th century, it was remodeled in the Inn-Salzach style that has been preserved to this day. The Church of the Assumption of Mary is designed as a cruciform central-plan building. Its bright, spacious main room is covered by a shallow dome. St. Margareta, meanwhile, is a former late Gothic parish church that is now a cemetery church. It was built in the Middle Ages and remodeled in the Baroque style in 1699.

Art, the Danube Riverbank and Activities

On an art walk through Obernzell, you can discover the “Sculptures of Silence.” The castle garden is also home to sculptures by artist Renate König-Schalinski. They blend into the garden landscape and can be viewed by visitors. The garden is also an event venue: its large open-air stage hosts cultural events and celebrations, including concerts, markets and club festivals. Dates may vary; check the program if you would like to plan your visit around an event.

The Obernzell Danube promenade is a wide, well-maintained, level, paved path along the Danube. It is accessible by stroller and wheelchair and offers views of the river and its distinctive valley. The “Hafnerzell” Danube ferry runs between the landing stage on the district road “Jochensteiner Straße” in Obernzell and “Nibelungen Straße” (B130) in the municipality of Vichtenstein in Upper Austria. It carries passengers, bicycles, cars, buses and trucks. As sailing times change seasonally, check the timetable in advance if you plan to take the ferry.

At Obernzell Harbor, the Danube Valley Sports and Leisure Center offers activities including canoeing, water skiing, swimming, beach volleyball, tennis, curling, table tennis and soccer. Another way to explore the area actively is the Danube–Moldau Cycle Route. It starts in the Danube Valley near Obernzell and follows the former cog railway line, with a 6 percent gradient, to Untergriesbach. The promenade runs level along the riverbank; the cycle route section to Untergriesbach, by contrast, has an incline. Route signs may change, so check them before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Erlau, Aldersbach, Hutthurm, Vilshofen an der Donau, Ortenburg, Breitenberg, Beutelsbach, Tiefenbach.

For the main travel overview: Passau.