Esternberg connects the Danube with a landscape shaped by stream valleys, forests, hills, meadows and fields. Nine hiking trails are described in the municipality. There are also destinations with a range of highlights: viewpoints along the Sauwald Panoramic Road, trails through valleys, and insights into the history of the churches and Krempelstein Castle. You can plan your stay around whether you would primarily like to hike or discover the area’s culture.
Hiking between the Danube and the forest
The Sauwald Panoramic Road has 15 viewpoints overlooking the Danube, which here is flanked by natural forested slopes. If you prefer to follow a specific route, Stage 1_S01 of the Donausteig is another option: it runs from Passau to Kasten, crossing the Sauwald and entering the Danube Valley, and ends in Esternberg. A detour from the stage leads to the “Burg Krämpelstein” panoramic viewpoint, with views into the Danube Valley.
Another hiking route is the Kößlbach Loop. It runs through the Riedlbach Valley to the Riedlbach’s confluence with the Kößlbach at the “Wanklmoar Sag,” then returns via Ringlholz. Rare plant life and natural beauty line the route; the loop is of particular interest to botanists and nature lovers. The described stops give the route a clear course through the valley, while the Panoramic Road’s viewpoints put the Danube views center stage.
The Esternberg Forest School offers a different kind of experience. Its forest walk is about 3 km long and is located near the village of Vollmannsdorf in Reisdorf. Numerous information boards provide information about the forest and its inhabitants. In 2017, the forest school was expanded at the initiative of the municipality, with updated signs identifying tree species as well as additional attractions and learning stations. This offers information about forests and tree species alongside the valley and Danube trails.
Churches and Krempelstein Castle
The construction history of Esternberg Parish Church spans from an initial wooden building to a stone structure in the Romanesque style. Under Bishop Altmann of Passau (1065–1091), the wooden building was replaced by this stone structure; the lower part of the tower has survived. This chronology makes the parish church a destination in its own right for anyone who would also like to learn about the town’s earlier architectural history during their stay.
Pyrawang Branch Church belongs to Esternberg parish and is located in the upper Danube Valley on the Danube Valley Road. Remains of High Gothic wall paintings from the 14th century have been preserved inside the church. This makes it one of the few ecclesiastical monuments in Upper Austria with surviving wall paintings from this period. As a Church of St. Peter, it also points to an early date of construction.
Krempelstein Castle is a rock castle on a rocky outcrop high above the right bank of the Danube, in the Pyrawang district of the municipality of Esternberg. The “Burg Krämpelstein” panoramic viewpoint is listed as a detour on the Donausteig stage. The wayside chapel in Kiesdorf and Krempelstein Castle are also relevant to the local heritage record: as of June 23, 2026, the chapel is protected by ordinance and the castle by official decision.
Crossing to Obernzell
For a river crossing, the Esternberg–Obernzell Danube ferry is one option: from Austria, you can take the B130 across to the opposite bank at Obernzell. If you plan to take the ferry, check the timetable in advance. This lets you consider this option without confusing it with the hiking and cultural destinations in the municipality.
Discover more travel destinations: Raab, Baroque Town of Schärding, Brunnenthal, Rainbach Im Innkreis, Münzkirchen, Sankt Aegidi, Schardenberg, Sankt Florian Am Inn
Return to the overview of the wider area: Schärding.
