East Bavaria

The Asam church monastery at Rohr is one of the most important baroque churches in Germany. The ceilings in the nave and the high altar flanked by red marble columns are considered masterpieces of their kind.

Luhe in the Naab valley, part of the Upper Palatinate Forest, is heavily influenced by the baroque style. The restored Ensemble building on the market square is impressive.

Stretching from Passau to the Bavarian Forest National Park is a region known locally as the Dreiburgenland. It owes its name to the castles of Fürstenstein, Englburg and Saldenburg.

Prunn Castle, close to the town of Riedenburg, is renowned for its permanent exhibition on the Nibelungenlied, a medieval epic poem. Today, it is on display in the Bavarian State Library.

Thanks to its sandy soil, the Abensberg 'Spargelland' is one of Europe's oldest and best-known asparagus-growing areas. From April to June, asparagus producers offer in-depth guided tours.

A famous attraction at Metten Abbey is the baroque library from the 18th century. This monastic library at the Benedictine abbey contains about 200,000 volumes, most of which are theological works.

The fact that Bavaria also has a lively wine culture in addition to its beer is demonstrated by the historic Baierwein wine-growing region. Its long tradition goes right back to the Middle Ages.

The Benedictine Abbey of Niederaltaich is a feature of the Lower Bavarian Danube region. In the baroque basilica of St. Mauritius, the high altar and the colourful ceiling frescoes are particularly worth seeing.

The baroque Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, designed by Johann Schmuzer, takes pride of place in the centre of the landgrave town of Pfreimd. Johann Schmuzer built it in 1685.

Amberg's historic old town is one of the best preserved in Germany. It is surrounded by an almost uninterrupted medieval enceinte, a defensive line of wall towers and curtain walls, with four gatehouses.

Bad Birnbach in the Bavarian Spa Region or Bayerisches Thermenland offers a fabulous mix of thermal water, wellness and cycling. The thermal waters that rise here do wonders for body and mind.

The Bavarian Forest offers visitors numerous delights such as its beautiful river valleys, lakes and bizarre rock formations. Numerous hiking trails lead through two nature reserves and the national park.

In the idyllic Bavarian Jura region, you can experience at first hand how the forces of nature shaped impressive landscapes. Where the Jurassic Sea existed millions of years ago, there are now buttes, karst landscapes and stalactite caves.

With its three spas, Bad Füssing in the Bavarian Spa Region or Bayerisches Thermenland is Europe’s largest thermal spa resort. Touring the idyllic river floodplains on two wheels will prove a delight to all cyclists.

The monumental Hall of Liberation, one of the most significant German buildings of the 19th century, is to be found atop the Michelsberg hill near Kelheim. The viewing platform offers a panoramic view of the Altmühl valley.

Close to the Lower Bavarian town of Bogen, the steep slopes of the 432-metre-high Bogenberg hill rise from the Danube valley. The rocky outcrops are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Located in the Upper Palatinate Forest, the historic and well preserved Wernberg Castle graces the town of the same name. It can be found perched on a ridge and is surrounded by an impressive moat.

The Benedictine Abbey of Plankstetten in the Altmühltal nature reserve has existed since 1129. The Ensemble incorporating the monastery church is worth seeing and follows the baroque style.

History fans are drawn to the Danube Valley because of the area’s archaeology and the Baroque churches of the Asam brothers. Numerous archaeological finds are on display in the Quintana Archaeological Museum.

The 1011-metre-high Brotjacklriegel is the Sonnenwald holiday region’s landmark mountain. Wonderful panoramic views can be enjoyed from its observation tower and restaurant.

The Regen Valley in the Upper Palatinate region is characterised by sprawling wetlands, mixed forests, lush green meadows and numerous castles and palaces.

The Gothic town of Landshut is adorned with an impressive array of historic monuments. The most important secular building in the old town is the historic town hall with its Gothic facade.

Above the River Pfreimd in the Upper Palatinate town of Trausnitz is Castle Trausnitz im Tal, one of the prettiest in Bavaria and was once the home of numerous knights and aristocrats.

Perched high above the old town of Landshut is Trausnitz Castle. Its medieval buildings and ring of fortifications give the castle complex an impressive external appearance.

In the Maybach Car Museum in Neumarkt, close to Nuremberg, you’ll be taken on a thrilling ride through automobile history. The main focus is the legendary Maybach brand.

Dingolfing in the Isar Valley is a small town with many churches. The most important is the Church of St. Johannes with its stained-glass windows, late medieval sculptures and an over-sized crucifix.

The Danube’s romantic river landscape is best discovered on foot. A leisurely riverside stroll along Europe’s second largest river will allow you to appreciate the impressive wetlands.

From 1890 onwards, glass factories began to spring up in Neustadt an der Waldnaab leading to it becoming the European centre for lead crystal in the 20th century.

Close to the town of Windischeschenbach is the KTB Geo Centre. It operates in the world’s deepest borehole that’s more than 9000 metres deep.

The Sibyllenbad Spa in Bad Neualbenreuth attracts visitors with its wellness offers and soothing mineral springs. This curative water is also added to the pools in the bathing complex.

The European Sculpture Park adds an artistic touch to the footpath next to the River Schwarze Laber in the town of Beratzhausen. On display are 40 works by international artists covering a variety of subjects.

In Abensberg, you can marvel at the medieval old town and the modern artistic elements from Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Here you can discover artworks inspired by Hundertwasser’s style.

The historic old town of Weiden in der Oberpfalz is particularly picturesque. Especially charming are two splendid town gates, the pretty art nouveau buildings and the Renaissance gabled houses in the market square.

The small town of Nabburg is an attractive destination with historic charm dating back over a millennium. Its almost fully intact town wall towers over the Naab Valley.

Lengenfeld Castle with over 1000 years of history dominates the historic town of Burglengenfeld. Encircled by an 800-metre wall, it is the largest castle in the Upper Palatinate.

The Carp Country region in the Central Upper Palatinate is renowned throughout Germany for its unique pond landscape and carp farming tradition that dates back almost 1000 years.

The collection of buildings in the monastery village in Speinshart are culturally and historically important, and have a long rural tradition. By 2017, most of the 18th-century-built houses had been thoroughly renovated.

Lupburg is a market town with over a thousand years of history to its name. Today, it’s the attractive Church of St. Barbara that allows the picturesque historic centre to make an impression.

The monastery town of Waldsassen features wonderful natural surrounds and a wealth of Baroque treasures. The striking Cistercian abbey has dominated the landscape for almost 900 years.

The natural landscape in Abbey Corner or Klosterwinkel ranges from gentle hills to dense forests. This Danube Valley region in Lower Bavaria contains six districts.

Directly next to the Main-Danube Canal and the Altmühl Valley Nature Park is a true medieval gem: the small historic town of Berching. In the Baroque-style Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary magnificent frescos decorate the ceiling.

The monastery village of Windberg occupies a hilltop location on the edge of the Bavarian Forest and enjoys views of the Danube and surrounding mountains.

Leuchtenberg Castle in the market town of the same name is famous for its castle festival. The well preserved castle ruins sit atop the 570-metre-high Leuchtenberg hill.

The Weltenburg Abbey in Kelheim occupies a particularly picturesque spot in the Danube Gorge. Impressive rock formations surround the Benedictine abbey in this romantic setting.

Built in 1781, the Cultural Palace in the Kümmersbruck suburb of Theuern houses the Mining & Industry Museum of East Bavaria. The subjects covered include mining, the Industrial Age and mineral resources.

The town of Massing is renowned for the Berta Hummel Museum and its open-air museum that explores the history of rural life in Lower Bavaria. In between orchards and fields, old farmyards provide an insight into farming life.

Attractions in the Upper Palatinate market town of Moosbach include Treswitz Castle and the Wieskirche church. The single-nave Baroque church features a shimmering reddish tower and a radiant interior.

Wonderful views across the Lauterach Valley have been enjoyed since the 10th century from the Klosterburg, which sits high above the town of Kastl. Its Romanesque abbey church is of particular note.

The Steinwald Nature Park is characterised by rolling mountains and bizarre granite rock formations. Coniferous trees dominate the sprawling forest landscape.

The enthralling Upper Palatinate Forest is considered a particularly diverse mountain range landscape. The Upper Palatinate lake region appeals to water sports enthusiasts.

Located on the shoreline of the picturesque Dreiburgensee close to the small town of Tittling is the Bavarian Forest Museum Village, one of the largest attractions in this holiday region.

The exciting Upper Palatinate Open-Air Museum close to Nabburg tells the story of local rural life over the past 300 years. Traditionally farmed fields and cobbled roads are a real throwback to the 19th century.

Pleystein in the Northern Upper Palatinate Forest Nature Park has one very unusual attraction: a 38-metre-high rose quartz outcrop called the Kreuzberg.

Known locally as the Naturparkland, this tourist region in the Upper Palatinate Forest consists of eleven local districts. The peaceful natural forest reserve lies between the Waldnaab Valley and the Bohemian Forest.

The Upper Palatinate Lake District is an impressive area of idyllic lakes, ponds and river courses. Surrounded by hills and forests is the Eixendorfer See – a wonderful reservoir that’s ideal for water sports.

Romantic river valleys, picturesque lakes and six peaks over 1000 metres can be found in the Upper Bavarian Forest Nature Park. It contains 2500 hectares of nature reserves such as the Kleine Arbersee lake.

Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz was an important town in the 15th and 16th century when the counts palatine of the Wittelsbach dynasty resided here. The town’s eventful history is the focus of the local museum.

Friedrichsburg Castle is the prominent landmark of the small, peaceful town of Vohenstrauß in the Nature Park Region of the Upper Palatinate Forest. The castle’s five pointed towers paint a very impressive picture.

An unusual sight can be found on or rather in Schwandorf’s Weinberg hill: an underground rock-cut cellar labyrinth with vaults up to three storeys high.

The main attraction of Straubing’s Gäuboden Museum is the Roman treasure discovered here in 1950. It’s considered to be the largest hoard of Roman parade armour ever found.

The most renowned of the many churches in Plattling is the Chapel of St. Jacob at the town’s cemetery. The former parish church is somewhat outlying on the right bank of the River Isar.

The holiday region of Sankt Englmar is flanked by two, 1000-metre-high mountains, the Pröller and the Predigtstuhl.The region is a popular destination for nature lovers, hikers and winter sports fans.

Neuburg am Inn Castle is majestically perched high above the small town of the same name. An imposing outer wall with three corner turrets and a bridge encircles the 11th-century castle.

In the small Upper Palatinate town of Schönsee is the Bavaria Bohemia Centre. This public culture centre is an information provider for the Bavarian-Czech culture cooperation and coordinates this.

Close to the Grandsberg and at the foot of the 1095-metre-high Hirschenstein lies the holiday resort of Schwarzach. The region is also renowned for mountain bike tours and a cross-country skiing area.

Almost the entire old town of Sulzbach-Rosenberg is located on a hillside overlooked by the mighty Sulzbach Castle. Places of interest include the large town museum and the Gothic town hall.

The Geological Trail in Tännesberg has been educating visitors since 2011. The three-kilometre circular path provides an interesting learning experience about the rock types in East Bavaria such as granite.

Not far from Tirschenreuth’s town centre is the attractive park of the historic Fischhof estate. The area was completely remodelled for the State Garden Show in 2013.

The Tirschenreuth Teichpfanne is an area consisting of around 2500 ponds and small lakes – the largest wetland landscape of its kind in Germany.

Bad Abbach is renowned for its health-promoting resources: sulphurous thermal water and precious peat. Everything comes from the spa town’s natural surroundings.

Perched above the attractive old town of Vilshofen an der Donau is Schweiklberg Abbey. The twin-tower abbey with its restaurant, garden nursery and shop has been the home to Benedictine monks since 1905.

The King Otto Cave close to the town of Velburg is one of the finest caves in Germany. A shepherd discovered it by chance in 1895 when the fox he was chasing appeared to vanish into the mountain.

The magnificent ‘Maria-Hilf’ Church in Freystadt is a renowned pilgrim destination and concert hall. Standing for more than 300 years, its mighty dome is crowned with a gold-plated Madonna.

The Church of the Visitation of Our Lady is idyllically located between woodlands and fields atop the 800-meter-high Fahrenberg in Waldthurn.

Dominating the skyline in Wörth an der Isar is the pointed steeple of the Church of St. Laurentius. Following major expansion work, the parish church has been a magnet for pilgrims since 1944.

Straubing Zoo, located at the heart of the town’s park, has been welcoming visitors for over 80 years. Originally featuring only a small number of animals, the collection now comprises some 200 local and exotic species.

What was once a brickyard is now the home of the Flintsbach Brick & Lime Museum in Winzer. The focus of this interactive museum is the interesting history of two building resources: bricks and lime.

The impressive Walhalla in Donaustauf is a national hall of fame featuring busts and commemorative plaques of important German individuals. Following 12 years of construction, it was opened by Ludwig I of Bavaria in 1842.

The combination of Regensburg’s wonderful old town and Stadtamhof Island has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006. Around 1000 historic buildings from every era tell the story of Regensburg’s 2000-year-old history.

Among beer enthusiasts, the suburb of Neuhaus in the town of Windischeschenbach is renowned for its Zoigl beer brewing tradition.

The Vulkanerlebnis Parkstein or Parkstein Volcano Experience provides an insight into the natural phenomenon of volcanic eruptions.

Three recognised natural remedies can be found in Bad Gögging: thermal water, sulphur water and natural peat.

Known locally as the Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte, the museum uses exhibitions and publications to communicate the history of Bavaria to visitors.

Built from 1836 onwards, the Ludwig Canal connected the River Danube at Kelheim with the River Main at Bamberg until the middle of the 20th century. The 173-kilometre-long transportation route strengthened Bavaria‘s economic development.

Three rivers from three directions meet in Passau. Together, the Danube, Inn and Ilz continue to flow in the fourth direction, eastwards to the Black Sea.

Welcome to Bad Griesbach im Rottal. The idyllic spa town in Bavaria's thermal spa region will delight you with its feel-good thermal spa and Europe's No.1 golf resort!

The Oberviechtach region boasts a range of unspoilt scenery, with hiking trails through dense forests and along idyllic rivers providing adventure and relaxation.

The fortress of the Parsberg sits on a rocky plateau in the pretty Schwarze Laber valley.

The 1,000-year-old Falkenberg Castle towers on a mighty granite rock above the winding streets of the village of the same name.

Landau an der Isar is renowned for its culture and churches. The historic Kastenhof area in the attractive upper reaches of the old town is home to a number of cultural establishments.

Falkenstein Castle is located in the town of the same name at the heart of a nature park renowned for its rock formations and healthy air.

Deggendorf's historic old town is located close to the banks of the Danube. The particularly attractive town square boasts cosy cafés, small shops and the beautiful baroque tower of the Heilig-Grabkirche church.

It was some 200,000 years ago when a subsidiary of the ancient Danube carved its way through the limestone rock.

Close to the banks of the Danube is Deggendorf’s historic old town. A section of the town wall and the old town hall built in 1535 are the last remnants of the town’s medieval core.

This wooden sphere symbolising the Earth stands 40 metres tall and 50 metres wide on the shores of the Steinberger See.

Concealed behind the tiles of the medieval town walls of Landshut, you will find the KOENIGmuseum, an interesting architectural project.

The 621-metre Habsberg can be found in the heart of the Upper Palatinate Jura.