If you are seeking an outstanding two week ride with wonderful scenery, mostly flat terrain, and a visit to one of Europe’s oldest cities (Vienna), then come with Changing Gears on this exciting and breath-taking ride along the Danube. You will begin your immersion into Austrian history and culture right from the beginning. The first 2 days will be spent in Salzburg (home of Mozart), sightseeing, before you begin your 295 mile journey of a lifetime into Vienna. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Austria that are only possible by bicycle. As you cycle along the bike path, following the Salzach and Danube Rivers, you will bike through 11th century villages, vineyards and apple orchards, visit castles, ancient churches and abbeys, and cross the Danube into Germany and back again into Austria. Your lodging each night will be in family owned small hotels and inns centrally located on the platzs and within walking distance of all the local sights. And you end the trip in a grand hotel on a hill overlooking Vienna and right beside the Vienna Woods. Each day’s riding will be approximately 30 miles.

Day 1 and 2 - Salzburg. Mozart’s hometown, Europe’s biggest intact medieval castle, and wonderful music performed within the city throughout the year – this is Salzburg! It is Austria’s fourth largest city and very bike-friendly. Our staff will help you get your bikes ready for the ride to Vienna and there are bike trails to take test rides along – including a 7 mile ride along the Salzach River to Hallein where you can take a tour of a salt mine. Salt trade was the early life blood of this entire area.

Day 3-Burghausen, Germany. Europe’s longest castle (3,392 feet long) is located in this charming village. In the 8th and 9th centuries this castle was used as fortification to protect the salt shipping. The castle lit up at night is a sight never to be forgotten.

Day 4 – Obernberg, Austria. A charming 1,000 year old town with colorful baroque town houses, a fountain in the town square and a bulb-belfried church. Enter this town through an attractive town gate.

Day 5 and 6 – Passau, Germany. On the German-Austrian border, Passau is called the three rivers city: the Inn, the Ilz and the Danube converge here. You will visit St. Stephen’s Dom, which has the largest church organ in the world, and attend a noon time organ concert. You will also take a boat ride on the Danube.

Day 7 – Schlogen, Austria. Hard to imagine, but true – here at Schlogen the Danube turns back on itself, flows back for awhile and then, after another turn, continues its original course. Climb the hill behind the hotel we will be staying in and you can have a spectacular view of this “Great Loop”. Don’t forget to bring your swim suit – the hotel has an indoor swimming pool.

Day 8 and 9 – Linz, Austria. Linz is Austria’s third largest city. Your hotel is located on the Main Square and the pedestrian zone, so you can easily explore the courtyards between Main Square and the Old Town Quarter. From the balcony of the old Town Hall, on March 12, 1938, Adolf Hitler announced his 1000-year Empire. You can take a ride on the world’s steepest mountain railway, the Postlingbergbahn, which still uses turn-of-the-century carriages. Relax in any of the many cafes and sample the oldest known cake in the world – the Linzer Torte, an almond shortbread pastry. An optional side trip while staying in Linz is to Mauthausen, a notorious World War II concentration camp built by the Nazis and in operation from 1938 to 1945. Today, the camp is a memorial with many monuments dedicated to the different nationalities who died there.

Day 10 – Grein, Austria. Set off on foot to view the small town’s church and hilltop castle. Grein has the oldest town theater in Austria still in use. After dark, be sure to wander outside and catch the floodlit castle at its best.

Day 11 – Melk, Austria. Visit the spectacular 900 year old Benedictine Abbey of Melk. From the balcony of the Abbey there is a splendid view of the Danube. Napoleon headquartered here in 1805 and 1809. Tours in English are offered.

Day 12 – Krems, Austria - the center of Austrian winemaking. This wine growing region is called the Wachau. You will be having dinner in Krems at a traditional Heuriger. Heuriger has two meanings; it describes the wine and is also the place where it is sold. Heuriger is the newest wine which is drawn from the barrel in the spring.Before you arrive in Krems, you will be biking through two very interesting towns. First you will come to Willendorf where the oldest piece of European art was found, the Venus of Willendorf, and is over 30,000 years old. Continuing along the bike path, you will ride into Durnstein, the oldest town in Lower Austria. High above the town sits the castle where Richard the Lion-Heart was held prisoner on his journey homeward from the Third Crusade (1193).

Day 13 – Tulln, Austria. Two thousand years ago there was a Roman fort on the banks of the Danube where the town of Tulln now sits. Visit the Romanesque parish church in the city center. Tulln is known today as the Town of Roses.

Day 14 – Vienna – a name that conjures up dreams of imperial majesty, waltzes and coffee houses, glamorous balls, music and the arts, Baroque and post-modern, opera performances and jazz events. We end our bike tour at St. Stephan’s Cathedral, the symbol of Vienna. Here your bikes will be loaded in the van and you will take a fun tram ride up the hill to our spectacular hotel overlooking Vienna. There are many sights to see in Vienna, so you might want to plan on spending a few extra days.

Day 15 – Tour ends with breakfast. As you look back over the last 2 weeks, you will discover that you have a greater appreciation of the Austrian culture and that you have developed common bonds with your fellow riders and have found new friendships that will last a lifetime.

 

Cost is 4000.00 based on double occupancy and is open to men and women. Price includes your lodging, all breakfasts and dinners (we leave it up to you to pick your own fun spot for lunch along the bike trail), van support (also transports your luggage between hotels), route maps, mechanic and medic assistance, ferry crossings, boat trip in Passau. If you would like to join us in Passau, instead of Salzburg, the price is $3500 per person.