On the right bank of the Danube, the Schopper and Fishing Museum in Aschach is located directly on the Passau–Linz Danube Cycle Path and next to the Aschach cycling information point. This makes the town interesting for visitors who want to explore fishing, wooden shipbuilding and the cultural history of the Danube. Historic buildings and trails also add their own distinctive touches: the “Path of the Senses” cultural trail leads from the church square to Schopperplatz, while the Danube Trail runs from Passau through Aschach to Linz.
Fishing and shipping at the museum
The Upper Austrian Fishing Museum is devoted to the development of fishing gear and fishing methods, the craft of fishing and commercial fishing. It focuses both on the tools and methods used and on fishing as a profession. The Schopper and Fishing Museum also displays models of wooden ships once built in Aschach. They illustrate the town’s former wooden ship production.
Another motif from the history of the Danube can be found at the museum: the sgraffito depicts a tow of ships on the river. It dates from the 1960 renovation of the former storage building of the river engineering authority. Fishing work, historic wooden ships and the sgraffito offer different ways of exploring the themes associated with the river.
Architectural history and art
Aschach Castle was built in 1539 by Wolfgang von Liechtenstein. Aschach Parish Church dates from the heyday of the 16th century and was renovated and extended by architect Clemens Holzmeister. The two buildings represent different historical contexts: the construction of the castle in 1539 and the church’s architectural history, which dates back to the 16th century.
The parish church also houses the “Kripperlboot,” a hand-carved relief. Sculptor Ägydius Gamsjäger created it in 1984. The castle, church and relief thus bring together different forms and periods of Aschach’s cultural history, without belonging to the same era.
Routes along the Danube and through the town
The “Path of the Senses” connects the church square with Schopperplatz and runs along the “Golden Row” of heritage-listed townhouses. Its route between the two named squares and the historic row of houses are its main features. The Danube Trail offers a different perspective: its route runs from Passau through Aschach to Linz. The 20th Roman rest stop is also in Aschach, on the Upper Austrian Danube Cycle Path. The Danube promenade is a pleasant place for a relaxing walk.
Night watchman walks and the Schmankerl market
The night watchman walks with Hubert Krexhammer take visitors through the old Danube market on the last Friday of every month. Stories and legends, along with tales of secrets and the past, are shared along the way. The experience combines a walk through the old market with local history passed down orally.
The Schmankerl market takes place monthly from March to November, right on the Danube promenade, and offers regional products. Check the current municipal calendar for the exact market date. This makes it easy to plan around the seasonal market days; the night watchman walks, by contrast, follow a monthly schedule on the last Friday.
When choosing a focus for your stay, you can distinguish between the different themes: the museum covers fishing and former wooden ship production; the buildings and relief offer historical and artistic perspectives; and the routes take you either along a protected row of houses or through Aschach on the Passau–Linz route. Walks along the promenade and the dates of the Schmankerl market add opportunities to enjoy the riverside and regional products.
Discover more destinations: Alkoven, Stroheim, Prambachkirchen, Pupping, Fraham, Hinzenbach, Scharten, Hartkirchen.
Return to the main travel overview: Eferding.
