The best MTB trails around Schönbühel-Aggsbach

nice connection to the other bank of the Danube

Rollfähre Spitz-Arnsdorf The Rollfähre connects the towns of Spitz and Arnsdorf by water. The ferry, consisting of two interconnected ship hulls, has a load capacity of 20 t (bridge load alone 10 t) and transports both people and motor vehicles. The substructure of the loading deck is made of steel, while the superstructures are made of wood. The catamaran design ensures good stability. The ferry is held by a 485 m long carrying cable, which is stretched across the Danube and anchored to the banks in sturdy towers. The ferry and the carrying cable are connected by a so-called yaw rope. No costly energy is required for propulsion; only the river current of the Danube is utilized. The Rollfähre has a four-person crew, working in pairs. Since 2004, an art object by the Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson has been installed on the ferry.

The vineyards on the slopes are terraced and therefore make a beautiful picture.

beautiful view from the Danube bridge onto Schönbühel

interesting old building in the center of Schwallenbach

Schwallenbach, as part of "Locus Wahowa", was first mentioned in documents as early as 830, when it came as a donation from Charlemagne to the Bavarian monastery of Niederaltaich. In 1443, a judge and council of the now fortified market town were mentioned. In 1463, the place was devastated by the Bohemians, and the chapel was further adapted into a single-nave church. In 1504, the area finally came into the possession of the Habsburgs. When imperial troops entered the town in 1620 in the course of the Thirty Years' War, great destruction occurred. The church tower burned down and received its stone helmet. In 1645, the town finally also suffered from the destruction caused by the Swedes. Until 1974, Schwallenbach was an independent market town and afterwards became part of the market town of Spitz, where it has since been considered the southern part of the municipality. The church of Schwallenbach dates back to a chapel from the year 1420, which was consecrated to Saint Sigismund.

The subsidiary church of Schwallenbach belonged to the large complex of property of the Niederaltaich monastery in the Wachau, which was allegedly founded by Charlemagne. This resulted in close ties to the monastery administration and the parish in Spitz. Thus, a small noble family from Spitz directly founded and endowed this church. Above the north gate, two interesting coat of arms reliefs with a chain and lock have been preserved. They refer to the mutual dependence of liege lord and vassal knight. Since the end of the 13th century, the monastery has enfeebled its dominion to the Dukes of Bavaria, who ceded it to King Maximilian I in 1504. The subsidiary church is first mentioned in 1419 and shows strikingly pronounced features of its Gothic period of origin. For example, the brick-built pointed helmet of the tower is a building form from the late Gothic period, which is particularly characteristic of the Wachau. The church is dedicated to St. Sigismund, the legendary King of Burgundy - he lived around 500.

Seyfried der Ritzendorfer sought permission from Pope Martin V to rebuild the church, and received permission in 1420. In 1421, Seyfried Ritzendorfer and his wife Anna issued the deed of foundation for the chapel. The new church, dedicated to St. Sigmund, was to be subordinate to the parish church of Spitz as a daughter church, along with the cemetery. The two shields above the entrance are the coats of arms of the founding couple (right: coat of arms of the Knights of Schwallenbach; left: coat of arms of the Ritzendorfers). Seyfried Ritzendorfer is buried in the church.