weltenburg abbey tour

Epic Boat Ride to Weltenburg Abbey and Some Tasty Beer

By: Author Corinne Vail

Posted on Published: 13 November 18  - Last updated: 1 January 24

Home » DIY Travel » Germany » Epic Boat Ride to Weltenburg Abbey and Some Tasty Beer

Do you love beer or old monasteries? How about old monasteries that have been making beer for over 1000 years? Take a boat down to the Weltenburg Abbey, and enjoy one of these centuries-old brews. You’ll love it!

Don’t you just love a good boat ride? One with spectacular scenery and great snacks on board? We do, and we’ve taken many, like when we sailed out of Stockhom , took a tall ship vacation , boated into Taman Negara in Malaysia.

We’ve taken boats and ferries all over the world from Istanbul to Russia. We’ve enjoyed short cruises from the Galapagos to the Baltics.

Boat travel is just one perfect way to relax while you are sightseeing or just to get from one point to another without having the stress of driving, or figuring out which stop to get off at since there are usually not that many.

However the Weltenburg boat ride, a must-see in Germany , was a bit shorter; but it did take us to lunch at the renowned Weltenburg Abbey (Kloster Weltenburg) where they have been brewing their own beer for 1,000 years, so it’s got a pretty good hold on its claim of being the oldest monastic brewery in the world.

In this article, we’ll tell you all about a fantastic way to spend a day a little north of Munich in Kelheim, Germany. You’ll find out:

• Where Weltenburg Abbey is
• The boat ride through the Danube Gorge
• The incredible beer that’s brewed there
• How to get to Kelheim

Danube Gorge Boat Ride

On a whim and a crisp, fall day, we headed down to Kelheim , where you catch the 45 minute boat ride to the abbey. We hadn’t really done much research, but we figured it would all work out.

Travel is like that. If you are calm and patient, and maybe not expecting too much, it will all work out. At least that’s what we hoped as we pulled up to a rather full parking lot. It seems we weren’t the only ones that wanted to take advantage of this gorgeous day, especially since we knew that winter was sure to come in the not-too-distant future.

However, the boat launches are frequent, and even though we had a tough time finding a parking space, tickets were not a problem. We were on the next boat, leaving in only ten minutes. It was almost too quick. We boarded and headed straight to the top where we would have the best view of the ride.

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The ride. The ride is one reason you go to the Weltenburg Abbey. On the way, you go through one of the Danube’s most beautiful gorges. Limestone pillars, very similar to the ones we saw at Bastei Bridge in the Saxon Switzerland , come all the way to the water. It seemed to be over before we knew it, though. It was quick.

When we arrived at the dock, we took our time disembarking unlike the rest of the passengers. They wanted off, but we know that sometimes when you hang back, you can get the best photos so we took our time.

Weltenburg Brewery

The abbey and brewery sits on a tight bend in the river, rather like a horseshoe shape and the monastery and grounds take up most of the available space. There are a few things to do, take a brewery tour if they are being offered, visit the cathedral or the museum, and do a little shopping.  But one of the best reasons to go is that Weltenburg has a huge beer garden where you can drink the beer that’s been made there for centuries.

Looking for a space to sit down, we now knew where all those folks in those parked cars were…enjoying the autumn sunshine with a liter of beer. We intended to do the very same thing. We found a table, and since we’d eaten at the restaurant before , we decided to just have a pretzel and a beer, sit and chat, and enjoy the afternoon warmth in that golden light of fall.

Afterwards, we made our way down to the boat dock and headed back to our car. We then wanted to go to Kuchlbauer Tower since it was right up the road and another fun and quirky brewery tour.

How to Get to Weltenburg

Weltenburg is nestled in between two major cities, Regensburg and Munich. It’s only an hour drive from either of them, so if you have your own car or are renting one it’s super easy to get there. However, you cannot drive directly to Weltenburg Abbey, but you can drive to the town and take a one kilometer (about 15 minutes) walk along the river after leaving your car in the nearest parking lot.

We did this the first time we visited in November, because the boat ride doesn’t run during the winter months. If the weather is nice, and the boats are running, we definitely recommend the river route. You can book tickets at the departure point in Kelheim, just look for the Kasse kiosk.

Schiffart-Kelheim operates several ships making the round trip several times per day between March and November. You can get more information and latest prices at their website, however, they do not currently offer online bookings.

From Regensburg to Weltenburg

Driving  

• Take the A93 until you come to exit 45, Regensburg-Sud. 
• Follow the B16 to Kelheim and take the Riedenburg/Kelheim exit
• Turn right at the end of the offramp
• Cross the bridge over the Donau and stay on Riedenburgstr.
• Take the third exit at the first traffic circle
• Follow the signs to the Schiffsanlagestelle and the parking lots (Schiffsanlegestelle Kelheim, Stadtknechtstraße, 93309 Kelheim, Germany)
• Park in the ample parking lots, buy your tickets, and climb aboard one of the ships of the “White Fleet.”

If the ships aren’t running or you’d rather drive as far as possible, head to the parking lot in Weltenburg village. It is across the street from the firestation at Asamstraße 8, 93309 Kelheim, Germany.

Follow the trail on foot (or bike) around the river to the kloister. By train, hop on at Regensburg Hauptbahnhof and journey on to Saal/Donau, from there it is a short taxi ride to Kelheim (about 15 euro) or a bit further to Weltenburg (about 20 euro).

From Munich to Weltenburg

Driving – take the towards Nuremberg and then switch to the A93 in the direction of Regensburg. Take exit 49 and follow the road signs on into Kelheim as above.

By train , the nearest station is Abensberg, and then you would either have to take the bus that has few departures or hire a taxi.

Other Boat Trips You Might Enjoy around the World: France: The Scandola Nature Reserve Sweden: Tall Ship Sailing Croatia: Rowing on Lake Bled Turkey: Lake Van Botswana: Chobe National Park Uganda: The Kazinga Channel USA: San Juan Island, Washington

Where to Stay

Weltenburg is a great day trip, so I would suggest staying in Regensburg or Munich where you have lots of choices for restaurants and other sights to see. However, you can stay right there at Weltenburg Abbey or nearby in Kelheim right in the old town, and then you can enjoy this amazing beer without worries.

If you’re looking for a fun day out, one that keeps both kids and adults happy. Take the boat from Kelheim to the Weltenburg Abbey and have a terrific lunch after exploring the small monastery. Like us, you’ll go back again and again.

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Pin Weltenburg Abbey for later.

Thursday 29th of November 2018

I think I unconsciously clicked on this post when I saw the word "abbey"because I knew beer would be involved. I'm in Morocco right now, have been for 4 days during which time I've had no alcohol. I don't know the last time I went 4 days with no alcohol. But I knew that going in and actually vowed not to drink for the 5 weeks that I'm here (Lissette always said if I stayed away from the alcohol for a month I would lose the beer belly. So that's the mission). Weltenburg Abbey looks very nice and since we'll be in Germany for a month next year (including nearby Regensburg) we'll make sure to visit. Can wait to drink some beer again and I'm sure I'll have the belly back :)

Corinne Vail

Hi Frank, You crack me up. You are almost 1/5 of the way there. Unfortunately we won't be there. We've moved to Japan, so if you happen to come this way, let us know. We now live near Kamakura, Japan.

Benediktinerabtei St. Georg

Kloster Weltenburg

Church tours

Dai­ly with book­ing, except Good Fri­day and Holy Saturday

09:00 to 11:00, 12:30 to 16:30 Guid­ed tours are only pos­si­ble between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Sun­days and pub­lic holidays No guid­ed tours on Mondays

10 days notice required

length of time

30 min­utes — can be extend­ed to 45 or 60 min­utes for a fee

max. number of participants

100 peo­ple (for groups of less than 100 peo­ple, fur­ther groups up to a max­i­mum of 100 peo­ple will be booked if there is high demand).

Com­mu­nion and Con­fir­ma­tion chil­dren free (applies only to groups and if the guide can be held by a monk)

additional languages

Eng­lish (Ital­ian, French, Span­ish only on request)

No guid­ed tours are offered in the premis­es and gar­dens of the monastery.

Information and reservation:

• Allow about a 10-minute walk from/to the bus park­ing lot or ship land­ing stage, as it is not pos­si­ble to dri­ve through to the monastery.
• From about May to Sep­tem­ber there is a shut­tle bus from/to the car park. Infor­ma­tion on this is avail­able from the monastery tav­ern on 09441 67570. Here you can also find out the cur­rent fees for the Wel­tenburg vis­i­tor car park.
• The meet­ing point for guid­ed tours of the church is the vis­i­tor cen­ter, where pay­ment is made in advance in cash or by vouch­er. The group will then be received in front of the monastery church.
• Book­ings are only valid with a writ­ten con­fir­ma­tion from us. Please give the tour guide a copy of this letter.
• If you arrive late, the full tour or demon­stra­tion time can­not be guaranteed. Can­cel­la­tion fees: can­cel­la­tion up to 8 work­ing days before the appoint­ment free of charge, then EUR 30.00 per group and booking
• In the event of non-arrival with­out can­cel­la­tion, the last report­ed num­ber of peo­ple forms the basis for calculation.
• The num­ber of par­tic­i­pants can be changed free of charge up to 2 work­ing days before the date. This num­ber forms the basis for cal­cu­lat­ing the entrance fees. We release a tour guide.

Further information on planning your journey and visit can be found on the websites of the following providers:

• Guid­ed tour of the brew­ery: www.stadtmaus.de  
• Plan­ning of boat trips: www.schifffahrt-kelheim.de
• Vis­it the monastery tav­ern: www.klosterschenke-weltenburg.de
• Fur­ther guid­ed tours: www.kelheim.de/stadtfuehrungen
• Ride on the Lud­wigs­bahn: www.ludwigsbahn-kelheim.de

For the fee-based book­ing, fill out the fields marked with *.

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Church tour

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• Time slot * On Sun­days and pub­lic hol­i­days only pos­si­ble from 12:30 p.m.! 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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By ship ...

... through the Danube and Altmühl valleys: On board the excursion boats of the Kelheim “White Fleet” (“Weiße Flotte”), passengers can enjoy the unique natural landscape.

Between March and November, excursion boats of Kelheim’s “White Fleet” (“Weiße Flotte”) run regularly between Kelheim and the Weltenburg Abbey . From April to November, they also run on the Altmühl River between Beilngries and Kelheim. In a relaxing atmosphere, passengers can enjoy culinary delights and a ride through the picturesque Altmühl Valley or through the extraordinary Danube Gorge .

Tip: A ride on the Altmühl or Danube is exciting and enjoyable on one of the entertaining special trips offered throughout the year.

The White Fleet of Kelheim

With six modern ships and room for almost 3000 passengers, today Kelheim’s Weiße Flotte, or White Fleet, is one of the largest private shipping companies in Germany.

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Take a Danube River Cruise to Kloster Weltenburg

These days, river cruises are all the rage and a Danube River cruise is, perhaps, one of the most popular. But for a magical day trip, visitors can take a river cruise to Kloster Weltenburg, the oldest monastic brewery in the world, from Kelheim, Germany. Although brief, the cruise takes travelers through the Danube Gorge (or Donaudurchbruch ), a stunning nature reserve lined with remarkable rock formations, to the tip of a peninsula where the famous Weltenburg Abbey offers solace and award-winning beer.

Brief History of Kloster Weltenburg

Kloster Weltenburg (or Weltenburg Abbey for English speakers) sits along a narrow crook in the Danube River about halfway between Ingolstadt and Regensburg while also midway between Nuremberg and Munich .

Bavaria ‘s King Ludwig I designated the area as a natural monument in the 19th century and then in the late 1930s it was named a nature reserve. The area covers nearly 1400 acres. The limestone rock facades that line the river are up to 260 feet in spots and include waterfalls and caves.

A Benedictine abbey, Abtei St. Georg in Weltenburg, was founded on the spot around the year 600 by monks from St. Columbanus. Remarkably, this makes Weltenburg Bavaria’s oldest monastery.

Today, it’s still an active monastery . The monks that reside there are busy men. In addition to their religious responsibilities, they run and maintain the abbey and its properties, including a gift shop, a guesthouse, and more.

Weltenburg Abbey Brewery (Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg)

The Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg, or Weltenburg Abbey Brewery, dates to the year 1050. Today, Weltenburg brews about a dozen or so beers, including an alcohol-free variety and Radler, a popular German style that combines beer with (in this case) lemonade.

Cruising to Kloster Weltenburg

The Danube River Cruise to Weltenburg from Kelheim isn’t the only way to reach to the monastery. But it sure is worth experiencing. With its natural park settings, the monastery is a popular destination for hikers and cyclists. From the clear, glass-smooth waters of the Danube, you get a completely different perspective on things.

Cruises leave from boats on the edge of Kelheim, a small town with a charming old city center of painted buildings. (Be sure to go for a stroll through Kelheim before you leave!) There are no reserved seats on board the multideck ships and the top desk is completely open air. The ships offer table service of drinks and light bites if you find it difficult to wait for the monastery.

The cruise, which takes about 40 minutes going and 20 to return, includes an audio track in German and English pointing out notable spots along the river and sharing important anecdotes and historical information. The audio tour guide is quite interesting. Passengers will get to see the series of metal rings in the stone mountain face that were used once upon a time for pulling boats upstream. There’s also a small historic cave church that the ferries sail by. But it’s when the ship passes through the narrow gorge that passengers get a thrill and a peek at the Befreiungshalle , or Liberation Hall , that sits high above the river.

Tips for Danube River Cruise to Kloster Weltenburg

There are a number of parking lots in Kelheim, including one directly next to the dock where the ship boards.

Things to See and Do at Kloster Weltenburg

Visitor center ( besucherzentrum ).

A first stop for new visitors to Weltenburg Abbey is the surely the visitor center. The spot is worth a visit, if only for its location inside a rock-cut cellar. But the visitor center also provides great information as well as a small museum that you can visit for a modest fee. The museum includes artifacts found at the site through the centuries and some background on the wildlife in and around this area of the Danube. There’s also a video (in German) on the history of the monastery, the monks who currently reside there, and the monastery today.

From outside, the white facade of the abbey’s church seems relatively modest. A kind of courtyard exists in the heart of the abbey, ringed by buildings and the Biergarten . The church sits quietly in a corner of this courtyard. While the exterior seems petite, the inside is a different story.

The Klosterkirche St. Georg is a remarkable piece of art and architecture. Work started on the church in 1716 and it was completed more than two decades later in 1739. Bavaria’s famous Asam Brothers, Cosmas Damian Asam and Egid Quinn Asam, were responsible for much of the project.

For anyone who has visited churches or royal buildings through Bavaria, the mention of the Asam Brothers will surely pique interests. The brothers are, after all, responsible for the Asam Church in Munich: an outlandishly lavish and indulgent church in the smallest of spots that initially served as their “private” place of worship. They also left their mark at spots including Munich’s Alter Peter and Trinity Church as well as the new palace at Schleissheim .

In addition to the four intricate and ornate altars in the church at Weltenburg, the brothers’ most memorable contribution to the project is, perhaps, themselves. Literally. Both brothers are depicted high above worshippers’ heads. The church’s impressive ceiling fresco, which shows a swirling spiral leading up to heaven that is lined with celestial figures includes Egid. Just below, a stucco figure of Cosmas, dressed smartly in a red jacket with voluminous curly hair piled atop his head, humorously keeps watch. (Look for the figure on the label of the brewery’s Asam Bock beer, too!)

The decoration throughout the church is remarkable. The church also features a historic organ from 1729.

By now you’re probably rather eager to get a taste of the Weltenburg beer. The Klosterschenke Weltenburg is the restaurant and Biergarten that sits in the heart of the abbey under the cover of lovely mature trees. The restaurant is open much of the year, but if you’re looking to visit during the winter, it’s worth checking their schedule.

The restaurant serves typical Bavarian fare that always seems to compliment the beer. And with the setting in the beautiful nature reserve, there are no shortage of ways to work those calories off. Or you can simply float back to Kelheim!

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All opinions, as well as all photos, are my own.

1 thought on “Take a Danube River Cruise to Kloster Weltenburg”

Great post! I have always wanted to go on a river cruise. They seem like a lot of fun.

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Thanks to the Danube shipping companies, we get to experience the unique Danube Gorge at arm's length. Award winning beer and a lot of baroque enrich our shore leave at the monastery

By boat through the Danube Gorge

The Weltenburger Enge (Weltenburg narrowness) with the Danube Gorge is one of the oldest nature reserves in Bavaria. Anyone travelling along the Danube through this unique cultural landscape south of Regensburg in the company of Captain Renate Schweiger will experience an unforgettable natural spectacle.

And while enjoying the breathtaking landscape visitors travel along some major historical sights and places in Eastern Bavaria like the Walhalla Hall of Fame, the Unesco-City of Regensburg, the Liberation Hall in Kelheim and the Weltenburg Abbey at the Danube Gorge.

Regensburg, the once-flourishing trading metropolis on the Danube, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well-preserved medieval old town. Visitors looking for a peaceful journey can take a cruise from the Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge) through the beautiful Danube Valley.

King Ludwig I built the Walhalla just ten kilometres outside the city gates. Its location on the banks of the river was carefully chosen. This magnificent classicist Hall of Fame comes into view from afar. The Weltenburger Enge with the Danube Gorge is situated downstream, 30 kilometres south of Regensburg.

Cast off with Captain Schweiger

This is the territory of Renate Schweiger. This Captain of the inland waterways knows the Danube well, and all the many beautiful attractions along its banks. Her personal highlight is the Danube Gorge. She never tires of marvelling at this natural spectacle and conveying to her passengers the uniqueness of this region.

"The guests are almost speechless and completely enthusiastic"

A cruise with the Captain starts in Kelheim. The Befreiungshalle (Liberation Hall) on the Michelsberg is the symbol of the city. Like the Walhalla in Regensburg, it was built on the orders of King Ludwig I. The King loved magnificent castles, monuments and squares.

He had the monumental victory hall built high above the Danube to honour the War of Liberation against Napoleon.

The best way to experience nature is from a boat

A fairy tale landscape

Down at the jetty on Stadtknechtstraße, it’s time to cast off! Captain Renate Schweiger and her passengers are embarking on a 45-minute cruise through the fairy tale landscape of the Danube Gorge.

150 million years ago, this area was covered by a flat, sub-tropical sea. Corals and sponges built vast reefs out of limestone. Today, the Danube flows some five kilometres through the towering limestone cliffs.

The cruise ship glides past lush forests and rock faces up to 100 metres high. The centuries-old rock formations attracted aristocrats and wealthy citizens to the region in the 19th century. In 1840 the idyllic landscape was declared a natural monument by King Ludwig I.

Renate Schweiger is an inland waterway skipper at the Danube Breakthrough

Nature as a gift

Renate Schweiger spent her childhood here between the rocks and the water. Today, this captain of the inland waterways shares her enthusiasm for her home with guests from all over the world.

“For me, the most fascinating thing is the entrance into the Danube Gorge. You feel as if you’re standing in front of a closed rock wall. Even though I travel through it at least five times a day, this spot is still the most thrilling moment.”

Born and bred in Kelheim, she considers nature as a gift and protects it wherever she can. “For example, we do not offer night cruises and we take a break from December to March. That allows nature to recover.”

The ship glides silently through the nature reserve at a speed of five to six kilometres an hour. The atmosphere on board is good, as always. It is the “indescribable feeling” of calm that visitors appreciate and love.

Weltenburg Monastery lies in a loop of the Danube

Tasty: a beer from the Klosterbrauerei

The crowning glory is Weltenburg Abbey. It was founded in the year 600 and is Bavaria’s oldest monastic complex. The splendid Asamkirche of this Benedictine Abbey is one of the masterpieces of European Baroque.

Beer from the abbey’s brewery has also won numerous accolades. It can be tasted in the beer garden of the Klosterschenke Weltenburg, along with other regional specialities.

“There’s always a great buzz after every trip,” says an enthusiastic Renate Schweiger, whose parents ran the first cruises from Kelheim to Weltenburg Abbey and back in 1969. “For me it was always clear: I was going to work on the boat too.” This really is her dream job.

• More information on Danube navigation (only in German)
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Weltenburg Abbey Kelheim

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Description

The World's Oldest Monastery Brewery

Located near the city of Kelheim, Weltenburg Abbey is a Benedictine monastery by river Danube and, first and foremost, famous for its brewery. It was founded in 1050 AD and is thus the oldest still existing monastery brewery in the world. On weekends, guided tours are offered at the brewery.

Beer Garden in the Courtyard

The courtyard of the brewery is particularly popular because of its beer garden. Anyone who appreciates Bavarian brewery tradition will immediately feel at home here. Don't miss out on the famous “Weltenburger Kloster Barock Dunkel” that has already won the World Beer Award as the world's best dark beer (dark lager or dark draught).

But you shouldn't come here only for the fantastic beer. Have a look inside and around the abbey, one of the churches in Bavaria with ceiling frescos painted by the famous Asam brothers. 

Donaudurchbruch (Danube gorge)

Weltenburg Abbey is situated idyllically above the Donaudurchbruch. Enjoy your summer days, and stick your feet into the cool wet of the river along the pebble beach of the Danube. It is recommended to come to Kelheim by ship as one will be smoothly led through the Donaudurchbruch while listening to interesting information about the special characteristics of this particular stretch of Bavarian soil.

Historical Information

The genesis

Weltenburg Abbey was founded by the Irish-Scottish monks Eustachius and Agilus around 617 AD and is thus the oldest monastery in the whole of Bavaria. Allegedly, the abbey was consecrated to St. George by St. Rupert in 700 AD.

Continuation, Fleeing Monks and Resettlement

While the founding monks were leading the monastery strictly following the rules of St. Columbanus, the abbey was later put under the Benedictine order in the 8th century.

In the 10th century, Hungarians invaded the region and, as a consequence, all monks were forced to leave the abbey. In 932 AD, then, Weltenburg Abbey was inhabited once again, as a proprietary monastery of the Regensburg Diocese.

Looting and Extending the Monastery Complex

In the 14th and 15th century, the abbey was looted on several occasions during wars. The 18th century saw new buildings added to the monastery complex, such as the Frauenberg church and a new one dedicated to St. George again.

The Monastery's Closure is a New Beginning for the Abbey

On 21st March 1803, the monastery was closed down due to secularisation movements, and in 1842 King Ludwig I of Bavaria had the monastery reorganised as the priory of Metten monastery. Prince regent Ludwig, who later became Ludwig III, proclaimed the monastery an abbey.

How to get there

It is highly recommendable to travel to the abbey from Kehlheim by boat. The way there, against the stream, takes up to 40 minutes, whereas getting back will take only half the time. The first ship departs Kelheim at 9.30am and the last one at 6.30pm (weekends, April – October) or 6.10pm (Monday to Friday, April – October). A return ticket costs 9 € per adult. Dogs and bicycles are allowed on board. The pier can be found at Bahnhofstraße 1, 93309 Kelheim.

Coming from Regensburg, take the B16 until you get to the KEH38 in Saal and exit the B16 again at Riedenburg/ Kelheim. Following the KEH38 and the St2233 leads you to the Bahnhofstraße. Fee-based parking facilities are provided directly at the pier, but you may also park your car free of charge at the Volksfestplatz (square), which is only 400m (437yd) away from the pier.

The monastery cannot be accessed directly by motorised vehicles. You can find car parks at the Danube pier, which is only a few minutes walking distance away from the monastery.

From the direction of Nuremberg Use the A3 in the direction of Passau/ Regensburg and take Exit 95/ Beratzhausen. Continue on the St2041 towards Beratzhausen, where you follow the R11 until Hemau. Leave the roundabout driving towards Kelheim/ Painten on the St2233. Carry on until you reach the next roundabout. Once there, take the second exit leading into the Weltenburgstraße. Roughly after 6km (3.7mi), you will be able to see the car park at the Danube pier signposted.

From the direction of Munich Take the A9 in the direction to Stuttgart/ Nuremberg. Taking Exit 65/ Dreieck Holledau, you change onto the A93 leading towards Regensburg/ Hof. Leave the motorway at Exit 50/ Siegenburg and follow the B299 in the direction of Neustadt an der Donau. Continue on the road until you get to the B16 towards Nuremberg/ Ingolstadt, which you leave again at the exit Mühlhausen/ Neustadt an der Donau. Keep following the Landshuter Straße through Neustadt until you get to the Herzog-Ludwig-Straße. This is where you turn right into the Bad Gögginger Straße and automatically get to the St2233. The car park is signposted from here.

From the direction of Passau Take the A3 in the direction of Regensburg and leave at the motorway intersection Kreuz Regensburg at Exit 99. Continue on the A93 towards Ingolstadt/ Munich and then take Exit 45/ Regensburg-Süd. Get on the B16 leading to Kelheim and after approximately 16km (10mi) you get on the St2233 taking you to Saal an der Donau/ Kelheim. Once in Kelheim, you enter a roundabout, which you need to leave at the third exit to keep on the St2233. This way you will soon reach the car park at the pier along the Danube.

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Weltenburg Abbey- Come for the Beer, Stay for the History

Sitting somewhat precariously on the shores of the Danube not too far from Regensburg, you’ll find Weltenburg Abbey . I visited on a warm day in July. The plan was to tour the Brewery, but I was delighted to learn that there is much more to see at the Benedictine Abbey than just big vats of beer (not that big vats of beer aren’t interesting…). The Abbey also houses a small museum, and even more exciting, an Asam church.

Kloster Weltenburg’s location on a gravel spit of land near the Danube Gorge makes it a tough place for floods. (And there are markings on the archway showing where the high water reached.) Yet somehow, this monastery toughed it out close to 1000 years, even losing their land for a while. Today there are only a few monks left…but on a summer’s day, the Abbey grounds are bustling with activity.

A Visit to Weltenburg Abbey

You enter though a small archway, and suddenly the courtyard opens in front of you. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the afternoon in the Biergarten with its rows and rows of umbrella shaded tables under large Linden trees.   You can have lunch, or maybe cake. Or try the cheese, made by the monks in the Abbey’s dairy.

But you should definitely try the beer.

Weltenburg Abbey Beer

There’s a mostly good-natured rivalry going on in Germany about who can lay claim the oldest brewery. Weinhestephaner brewing goes back to 1040 CE, but monks have brewed Weltenburger Abbey beer since 1050 CE… and the Abbey foundations on the shores of the Danube, date back to the 700s. In the end, whether those 10 years make a difference is totally up to you. And the beer brewing rites are “Pacht” (leased) to a company out of Regensburg.

The Weltenburg Abbey Beer Tour shares the history of brewing on the site. Four beers are brewed here. Weltenburger Kloster Barock Dunkel (Winner of the World Beer Cup award in 2004, 2008 and 2012 for best Dunkel), 1050 (referring to the date of the first brew), Helles, and Weißbier. You can taste each of them in the very cool beer tasting cellar. Tour the on-site brewery ( you can to reserve that here ).

Weltenburg Abbey

Don’t feel like a tour? But, as I mentioned, visiting the Weltenburg Kloster is more than just a chance to drink beer.

The foundations of the Weltenburg Abbey date back to circa. 610 CE by Agilolfing Duke Tassilo I, making it the oldest monastic foundation in Bavaria according to the brochure ( of course I grabbed the brochure ). There is “evidence of human habitation from the Neolithic Age (4500-3500 BCE). ( Makes sense, a nice spot on the river is a great place to set tle).

I n the 8th century, the Benedictine order took over the space , started brewing beer in 1050, and then consecrated a church on the spot in 1191. And so it went on until 1713, when Abbot Maurus Bächl took over. A strong leader and organizer, he breathed new life into the order. AND (and this is the exciting part) he brought in the painter Cosmas Damian Asam to update the simple rectangular church.

The Church Gets a Redesign by the Asam Brothers

Cosmas took the ball and RAN with it. First he reshaped the nave (that central part of the church where the people sit) into a domed ellipse. Then he painted frescos with stories of the spread of Christianity across the globe. ( Side note- 12 Benedictine monks traveled with Columbus on the Santa Maria… so the spread of Christianity to the Americas is depicted in the paintings ).

He also added an apse (the end of the church for clergy) on the east end to get more dramatic space for the altar. Then Cosmas brought in his sculptor brother Egid Quiri Asam to build massive sculpture of St Georg slaying a dragon, which dominates the space.

St George and the Dragon

Like most Asam works, the church is simply breathtaking. (Read more about the Asam Brothers here)  You can’t just walk through and say, “I’ve seen it”. Sit, and LOOK. The Asam brothers, and later Cosmas’s son Franz, covered every surface with a story. Paintings, Friezes (dimensional sculptures in the wall), and Sculptures (even one of Cosmas himself laughing down at you!). Color and gold. I try to imagine what it must be like for the monks… then and now…to sit in that place and experience the history of Christianity all around you.

Cosmas looking down on you

Delivering the message of Christianity to the world.

Changes for the Monastery

From 1804 to 1812 Germany underwent a period of secularization and mediatistation . Which meant that many small principalities from the Holy Roman Empire coalesced into larger states (basically it went from over 300 to just 39) and a lot of religious entities lost their status, and became secular. The brewery and much of the land surrounding the Kloster were sold off. The church itself became a parish church for the area.

Then in 1841  King Ludwig I (the Oktoberfest king) gave the Benedictine’s their charter back. The Weltenburg Kloster went back to being an Abbey.

Kloster Museum

Visiting the Weltenburg Kloster

Today, only 7 Monks live on the grounds (they must rattle around a bit). The Abbey Biergarten is open during summer months, and people are welcome to come enjoy themselves in the beautiful surroundings. It’s possible to wade or swim in the Danube…or you can just enjoy an Eis on a warm day (like my friend Carrie!)

For information about visiting the Weltenburg Abbey, check out their Website –> Visiting the Weltenburg Abbey 

Kloster Weltenburg can be found just 5 Kilometers from  Kelheim, approximately 30 minutes southwest (by car) from Regensburg. Be aware that the parking lot is a 10 minute walk from the entrance, and you walk between a wall and street.

Spend the Night within the walls of Kloster Weltenburg.

“Gästehaus St. Georg – Weltenburger Klosterbetriebe GmbH provides modern but functionally furnished rooms. A rich buffet breakfast is available each morning. There is also a recreation room where guests can enjoy Weltenburger beer specialties that were brewed in the oldest monastery brewery in the world. There is also a traditional Klosterschenke lounge with a beer garden. The property also offers meals made from fresh produce from the region. Guests are also welcome to use the reading room where there is a selection of daily newspapers, nonfiction and fiction.” Click HERE for images of the rooms.

And maybe on your way out, you can grab a go-cup (or small barrel) of Weltenburger Abbey Beer

You could also take an excursion to Kloster Weltenburg from Regensburg or Munich

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Klosterschenke Weltenburg

Herzlich Willkommen

Dear Guests,

We wel­come you to the Kloster­schenke Wel­tenburg restau­rant the Bavar­i­an way, with a heart­felt “Grüß Gott”.

It’s won­der­ful that you’ve tak­en the time to vis­it us at the Wel­tenburg Abbey.

Indulge in some free time to enjoy the beau­ty of the town, with its unfor­get­table baroque archi­tec­ture and sur­round­ing countryside.

Wel­tenburg is tru­ly a spe­cial place, one in which the artis­tic impact, the cler­i­cal and intel­lec­tu­al pow­er of the Abbey and its church meet the beau­ty of the riv­er land­scape of the Danube Gorge and the force of nature that is the Danube.

On a culi­nary lev­el, this match­less beau­ty is opti­mal­ly com­ple­ment­ed by the old­est abbey brew­ery of the world, with its pre­miered beers, and our Kloster­schenke restaurant. 

We try to pro­duce all of our prod­ucts our­selves, as far as pos­si­ble, turn­ing to region­al sup­pli­ers who, just as we do, still place great val­ue in handicraft.

And you can taste the difference!

So, savour our hos­pi­tal­i­ty, food and drink in the unique atmos­phere of this mag­i­cal place. We wel­come not only pil­grims, bicy­clists, hik­ers, day-trip­pers, cel­e­bra­tion par­ties and tour groups. In com­bi­na­tion with our guest house St. George and its bar­ri­er-free rooms and premis­es opti­mized for group sizes from 5 to 100, we offer com­pa­nies, busi­ness­es and oth­er groups the per­fect place for sem­i­nars, con­ven­tions and the like. https://gaestehaus.kloster-weltenburg.de/tagungen/?lang=en

And yet work is still work and needs to be done. ‑ But why not do it in a very spe­cial place?

No mat­ter what leads you to Wel­tenburg — we look for­ward to wel­com­ing you!

YOUR TEAM AT THE KLOSTERSCHENKE WELTENBURG RESTAURANT

Fur­ther infor­ma­tion is avail­able in our newslet­ter, „Wirtshaus­bladl“.