Mautern an der Donau: Roman History, Trails and Wachau Wine

Mautern an der Donau combines visible traces of the Roman era with trails through the Wachau and a distinctive wine-growing landscape. Those planning a trip combining history, activity and regional cuisine will find several different focal points for structuring their days here. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore first consider whether culture, cycling, hiking, wine or good public transport connections should be your main priority.

Roman Heritage in Mautern

Mautern has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Danube Limes since 30 July 2021. The World Heritage Site includes the preserved walls and towers of the Roman fort of Favianis. Mautern also has the best-preserved remains of Roman fortifications in Austria. The Roman fort was extensively expanded in the 4th century; at that time, fan-shaped and horseshoe-shaped towers were built, some of which are still visible today.

Those interested in historic landscapes can also include the Roman Road in Mautern in their plans. It probably dates back to Roman times and remained in use until the modern era. Today, it runs as a steep hiking route from the southern edge of Mauternbach towards Unterbergern. Distinctive wagon tracks make its course easy to see. The incline should be taken into account when planning your day, while the visible traces provide a special highlight for hikers interested in history.

The Horseshoe Tower and the Roman Wall are currently only accessible to a limited extent due to ongoing construction work. The Mautern Roman Museum is currently undergoing a comprehensive redesign and is being relocated to another site. The small temporary exhibition “Favianis – Roman Mautern” can be seen at Mautern Town Hall. It is freely accessible during public office hours. This makes it possible to combine a visit focused on history with a current exhibition without overlooking the restricted access to the structures.

Cycle Paths, Running Routes and Hiking

A section of the Danube Cycle Path from Passau to Vienna runs through the Wachau directly to Mautern. For a cycling trip, this route is a clear point of reference when choosing a holiday destination. Those who prefer to travel on foot will find six routes ranging from 5.2 to 19.2 km at the Wachau Running and Nordic Walking Centre. One of these routes was specially designed for wheelchair users.

For individual mobility, Mautern has a Nextbike bicycle-sharing station in the car park of the Römerhalle. If you would like to combine different modes of transport, this specific location can be incorporated into your planning. The Wachau Line WL2 connects Krems with Mautern. Buses run along the right bank of the Danube at intervals of one to two hours. The nearest larger railway station is in Krems an der Donau; trains towards St. Pölten stop in the neighbouring town of Furth-Palt.

Church and Wachau Wine

In addition to its Roman heritage, the parish church of St. Stephen offers another cultural focus. It acquired its present appearance through a Baroque refurbishment led by Carlo Antonio Carlone. Among the church’s most important works of art are 14 Stations of the Cross paintings by Martin Johann Schmidt, known as Kremser Schmidt, dating from around 1770. For a cultural holiday, you can consider this art-historical aspect independently of the Roman sights.

The landscape around Mautern also has a distinct culinary character. White wines from the Wachau dominate the vineyards around Mautern. Wachau wines are divided into the categories Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd. Those wishing to discover regional specialities can plan this wine connection as a separate travel theme alongside history and activity.

Which Starting Point Suits Your Trip?

A holiday apartment in Mautern an der Donau may be an interesting search destination for a variety of travel plans: days devoted to Roman history, arrival or a stage along the Danube Cycle Path, running and Nordic walking routes, or exploring Wachau wine. The key question is which focus you choose. For culture enthusiasts, the restricted accessibility of the Horseshoe Tower and Roman Wall, as well as the redesign of the Roman Museum, are part of the current planning considerations. For travellers without their own bicycle, the Nextbike station and the WL2 connection provide concrete points of reference. If you plan to arrive by train, you should include Krems an der Donau and Furth-Palt in your considerations.

You can find more destinations to compare at Krumau am Kamp, Rastenfeld, Schönberg am Kamp, Mühldorf, Weißenkirchen in der Wachau, Lengenfeld, Mitterarnsdorf and Ötz.

For the overarching travel overview: Krems-Land.