Ottensheim can be explored through several themes: regatta sports on the Danube backwater, market life and historic lanes in the town center, and trails and orchards in the surrounding countryside. If you’re looking for a hotel in Ottensheim, these different sides of the town can help you decide in advance what you’d like to focus on during your stay.
Regatta course and activities on the Danube backwater
The Danube backwater was created during the construction of the Ottensheim-Wilhering power plant. Today, it hosts international rowing and kayak regattas. The regatta course also offers opportunities for walking, cycling, skating, running and fishing; swimming in natural waters is another option. Regatta sports and a range of activities on land and in the water meet here. You can choose which ones to make part of your stay based on your interests.
Hiking and cycling
The Danube Trail between Passau and Grein passes through Ottensheim and offers scenic views. The surrounding hiking area has 55 km of marked trails. For cycling, Ottensheim offers car-free routes along the Danube, including the Danube Cycle Path. The cable ferry bridge is also on the Danube Cycle Path. When comparing the options, it helps to note the difference in location: the hiking trails extend across the area around Ottensheim, while the cycling routes run along the Danube.
The Danube bus also connects Ottensheim and Linz/Urfahr along the Danube. If you’re planning to use this connection, check the current timetable in advance. The Danube Cycle Path follows the Danube by bike, while the Danube bus connects Ottensheim and Linz/Urfahr on the water.
Market square, townhouses and weekly market
The historic market center includes charming little lanes. At the market square, you’re surrounded by historic townhouses; the square itself was redesigned in 2001 by Boris Podrecca. This combination of local history and more recent design gives the market square a character of its own.
A Friday market is held at the market square every week. At certain intervals, the weekly market also includes what is known as an “open market.” If visiting a market is important to your plans, it’s a good idea to check the latest information in advance.
Orchards, local mountain and local products
The orchards in Ottensheim are characterized by old fruit trees and provide important habitats for numerous animal and plant species. Their fruit is used to make Ottensheim orchard apple juice and, from time to time, orchard chocolate. Both products are sold under the name “Ottensheim Products.”
Another distinctive local feature is the 549-meter-high Dürnberg: it is Ottensheim’s local mountain and also a production site for fine spirits. Together, the orchards and Dürnberg show two different connections to the landscape: it provides a habitat, and its products are also part of the local character. The products mentioned represent different ingredients and methods of production: fruit from the orchards on the one hand, and spirits from Dürnberg on the other.
Discover more destinations: Reichenthal, Ottenschlag im Mühlkreis, Gramastetten, Mursberg, Engerwitzdorf, Puchenau, Gallneukirchen, Herzogsdorf.
See the overview of destinations in the wider area: Urfahr-Umgebung.
