Ortenburg offers several distinct reasons to explore: the annual jousting tournaments at the foot of Ortenburg Castle, two wildlife parks and a historical highlight at the castle museum. In 2025, the museum displayed the old furnishings from the castle pharmacy, from the estate of GĂĽnther Heumann. When planning your trip, it helps to decide on your main focus first: an event, time in a park or a closer look at the museum furnishings.
Jousting Tournaments and Wildlife Parks in Ortenburg
The Ortenburg Jousting Tournaments take place every year at the foot of Ortenburg Castle. The program includes tournament events, a historic market, traditional craft workshops, camp life and birds of prey demonstrations. A visit to the event combines performances with market activities and traditional crafts. Since specific dates are important for your trip, check the latest event dates before booking your accommodation.
You can explore the Wildpark Schloss Ortenburg along well-maintained paths through a park covering around 25 hectares, with numerous animal enclosures and aviaries. The published hours for the wildlife park are daily from 09:00 to 17:30 for admission, with the park closing at 19:00; confirm them with the operator before your visit. Since opening hours may change, check the information with the operator before visiting.
Another wildlife park option is Tierpark Irgenöd in Ortenburg. It is home to more than 90 exotic and native animal species; the number of species may change over time. The two parks offer different points of interest to help you choose: the Wildpark focuses on the park grounds, paths and aviaries, while Tierpark Irgenöd focuses on the diversity of animal species.
Castle Museum and Cultural Events
In 2025, the Ortenburg Castle Museum displayed the old furnishings from the castle pharmacy, from the estate of GĂĽnther Heumann. If you want to see these particular furnishings, check before your visit whether they are still on display.
Ortenburg’s castle culture is also part of the cultural program in the wider Passau destination. The Friends of Ortenburg Castle association organizes the series from April to December. It includes musical events, cabaret performances, spooky nights at Ortenburg Castle, talks and guided tours. Castle culture therefore offers different types of events from the jousting tournaments. Check the specific dates for the season if you want to plan your stay around them.
More Places to Explore in the Wider Passau Destination
In Tittling, the Bavarian Forest Museum Village is one of Europe’s largest open-air museums. On its 20-hectare site, you can visit more than 100 residential and agricultural buildings from the Bavarian Forest, dating from 1580 to 1890. The site includes farmhouses, mills, sawmills, smithies, chapels and field monuments. Germany’s oldest elementary school, dating from 1666, is also part of the museum. This extensive look at historic buildings offers a distinct focus alongside Ortenburg’s castle and wildlife park attractions.
The Passau region is shaped by rivers, forests and thermal baths. Well-known thermal springs are located in Bad Füssing and Bad Griesbach. Cycling and hiking routes are also part of the regional offering: the Danube Cycle Path runs through the Passau region and received a 4-star rating following an assessment by the German Cyclists’ Federation. Since certifications may change, check the current status if the rating is important for your plans. The Granite Adventure Hiking Trail runs around Hauzenberg, and the Smugglers’ Trail passes through the Danube Pearls.
Discover more destinations: Aisterham, Haarbach, Bad FĂĽssing, FĂĽrstenstein, Hauzenberg, Breitenberg, Kirchham, Untergriesbach
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Passau.
