Activities
Figure 4: Wachau Valley, Austria
In general, important tourist and natural spots along the Danube include the Naturpark Obere Donau in Germany, the Wachau Valley and the Donau-Auen in Austria, Gemenec in Hungary, the Danube Banks in Budapest, Kopački rit in Croatia, Iron Gate in Serbia and Romania, the Srebarna Nature Reserve in Bulgaria and the Danube Delta in Romania. (Wikipedia)
For those who like exploring on their own, the Danube Bike Trail (also called Danube Cycle Path or the Donauradweg) is a bicycle trail along the river. It is divided into four sections: Donaueschingen-Passau (559 km), Passau-Vienna (340 km), Vienna-Budapest (306 km), and Budapest-Black Sea (1670 km). (Wikipedia)
There are five important and very influential cities on the river with their own must-sees: Melk, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, and Galați.
For those who like exploring on their own, the Danube Bike Trail (also called Danube Cycle Path or the Donauradweg) is a bicycle trail along the river. It is divided into four sections: Donaueschingen-Passau (559 km), Passau-Vienna (340 km), Vienna-Budapest (306 km), and Budapest-Black Sea (1670 km). (Wikipedia)
There are five important and very influential cities on the river with their own must-sees: Melk, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, and Galați.
Melk
Figure 5: Melk Abbey, Melk, Austria
Melk Abbey is a Benedictine abbey in Austria, and among the world's most famous monastic sites. It is located above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube river in Lower Austria, adjoining the Wachau valley. The abbey contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria's first ruling dynasty. Today's impressive Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 to designs by Jakob Prandtauer. Particularly noteworthy is the abbey church with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the impressive library with countless medieval manuscripts, including a famed collection of musical manuscripts and frescos by Paul Troger. (Wikipedia)
Vienna
Figure 6: Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria
Major tourist attractions include the imperial palaces of the Hofburg and Schönbrunn (also home to the world's oldest zoo, Tiergarten Schönbrunn) and the Riesenrad in the Prater. (Wikipedia)
Cultural highlights include the Burgtheater, the Wiener Staatsoper, the Lipizzaner horses at the spanische Hofreitschule, the Tiffany's Veaginia and the Vienna Boys' Choir, as well as excursions to Vienna's Heurigen district Döbling. (Wikipedia)
There are also more than 100 art museums, which together attract over eight million visitors per year. The most popular ones are Albertina, Belvedere, Leopold Museum in the Museumsquartier, KunstHausWien, BA-CA Kunstforum, the twin Kunsthistorisches Museum and Naturhistorisches Museum, and the Technisches Museum Wien, each of which receives over a quarter of a million visitors per year. (Wikipedia)
There are many popular sites associated with composers who lived in Vienna including Beethoven's various residences and grave at Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) which is the largest cemetery in Vienna and the burial site of many famous people. Mozart has a memorial grave at the Habsburg gardens and at St. Marx cemetery (where his grave was lost). (Wikipedia)
Vienna's many churches also draw large crowds, the most famous of which are St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Deutschordenskirche, the Jesuitenkirche, the Karlskirche, the Peterskirche, Maria am Gestade, the Minoritenkirche, the Ruprechtskirche, the Schottenkirche and the Votivkirche. (Wikipedia)
Cultural highlights include the Burgtheater, the Wiener Staatsoper, the Lipizzaner horses at the spanische Hofreitschule, the Tiffany's Veaginia and the Vienna Boys' Choir, as well as excursions to Vienna's Heurigen district Döbling. (Wikipedia)
There are also more than 100 art museums, which together attract over eight million visitors per year. The most popular ones are Albertina, Belvedere, Leopold Museum in the Museumsquartier, KunstHausWien, BA-CA Kunstforum, the twin Kunsthistorisches Museum and Naturhistorisches Museum, and the Technisches Museum Wien, each of which receives over a quarter of a million visitors per year. (Wikipedia)
There are many popular sites associated with composers who lived in Vienna including Beethoven's various residences and grave at Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) which is the largest cemetery in Vienna and the burial site of many famous people. Mozart has a memorial grave at the Habsburg gardens and at St. Marx cemetery (where his grave was lost). (Wikipedia)
Vienna's many churches also draw large crowds, the most famous of which are St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Deutschordenskirche, the Jesuitenkirche, the Karlskirche, the Peterskirche, Maria am Gestade, the Minoritenkirche, the Ruprechtskirche, the Schottenkirche and the Votivkirche. (Wikipedia)
Budapest
Figure 7: Parliament in Budapest, Hungary
Some of Budapest's points of interest are: the neo-Gothic Parliament, containing amongst other things the Hungarian Crown Jewels and Saint Stephen's Basilica, where the Holy Right Hand of the founder of Hungary, King Saint Stephen is on display. (Wikipedia)
The seven-hundred year-old Matthias Church is one of the jewels of Budapest. Next to it is an equestrian statue of the first king of Hungary, King Saint Stephen, and behind that is the Fisherman's Bastion, from where opens out a panoramic view of the whole city. Statues of the Turul, the mythical guardian bird of Hungary, can be found in both the Castle District and the Twelfth District. (Wikipedia)
The Castle Hill, the River Danube embankments and the whole of Andrássy út have been officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (Wikipedia)
On Castle Hill and the Castle District, there are three churches, six museums, and a host of interesting buildings, streets and squares. (Wikipedia)
The former Royal Palace is one of the symbols of Hungary – and has been the scene of battles and wars ever since the 13th century. Nowadays it houses two impressive museums and the National Széchenyi Library. (Wikipedia)
The city is also proud at the largest medicinal bath in Europe (Széchenyi Medicinal Bath) and the third largest Parliament building in the world, once the largest in the world. The third largest church in Europe (Esztergom Basilica) and the second largest Baroque castle in the world (Gödöllő) are in the vicinity. (Wikipedia)
One can have a taste of the Hungarian cuisine and café culture at Gerbeaud Café, Százéves, Biarritz, Fortuna, Alabárdos, Arany Szarvas, Kárpátia or the world famous Mátyás Pince Restaurants. (Wikipedia)
The world's largest panorama photograph was created in (and of) Budapest in 2010. (Wikipedia)
The seven-hundred year-old Matthias Church is one of the jewels of Budapest. Next to it is an equestrian statue of the first king of Hungary, King Saint Stephen, and behind that is the Fisherman's Bastion, from where opens out a panoramic view of the whole city. Statues of the Turul, the mythical guardian bird of Hungary, can be found in both the Castle District and the Twelfth District. (Wikipedia)
The Castle Hill, the River Danube embankments and the whole of Andrássy út have been officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (Wikipedia)
On Castle Hill and the Castle District, there are three churches, six museums, and a host of interesting buildings, streets and squares. (Wikipedia)
The former Royal Palace is one of the symbols of Hungary – and has been the scene of battles and wars ever since the 13th century. Nowadays it houses two impressive museums and the National Széchenyi Library. (Wikipedia)
The city is also proud at the largest medicinal bath in Europe (Széchenyi Medicinal Bath) and the third largest Parliament building in the world, once the largest in the world. The third largest church in Europe (Esztergom Basilica) and the second largest Baroque castle in the world (Gödöllő) are in the vicinity. (Wikipedia)
One can have a taste of the Hungarian cuisine and café culture at Gerbeaud Café, Százéves, Biarritz, Fortuna, Alabárdos, Arany Szarvas, Kárpátia or the world famous Mátyás Pince Restaurants. (Wikipedia)
The world's largest panorama photograph was created in (and of) Budapest in 2010. (Wikipedia)
Belgrade
Figure 8: Avala Tower, Belgrade, Serbia
The historic areas and buildings of Belgrade are among the city's premier attractions. They include Skadarlija, the National Museum and adjacent National Theatre, Zemun, Nikola Pašić Square, Terazije, Students' Square, the Kalemegdan Fortress, Knez Mihailova Street, the Parliament, the Church of Saint Sava, and the Old Palace. (Wikipedia)
Beli Dvor or 'White Palace', house of royal family Karađorđević, is open for visitors. The palace has many valuable artworks, including Biagio d'Antonio, Albrecht Altdorfer, Piero di Cosimo, Palma Vecchio, Paolo Veronese, Nicolas Poussin, Simon Vouet, Charles Le Brun, Sebastian Bourdon, Eugene Delacroix and others. (Wikipedia)
On top of this, there are many parks, monuments, museums, cafés, restaurants and shops on both sides of the river. The hilltop Avala Monument and Avala Tower offer views over the city. Josip Broz Tito's mausoleum, called Kuća Cveća (The House of Flowers), and the nearby Topčider and Košutnjak parks are also popular, especially among visitors from the former Yugoslavia. (Wikipedia)
Ada Ciganlija is a former island on the Sava river, and Belgrade's biggest sports and recreational complex. Today it is connected with the right bank of the Sava via two causeways, creating an artificial lake. It is the most popular destination for Belgraders during the city's hot summers. There are 7 kilometres of long beaches and sports facilities for various sports including golf, football, basketball, volleyball, rugby union, baseball, and tennis. During summer there are between 200,000 and 300,000 bathers daily. Clubs work 24 hours a day, organizing live music and overnight beach parties. Extreme sports are available, such as bungee jumping, water skiing, and paintballing. There are numerous tracks on the island, where it is possible to ride a bike, go for a walk, or go jogging. (Wikipedia)
Apart from Ada, Belgrade has total of 16 islands on the rivers, many still unused. Among them, the Great War Island at the confluence of Sava, stands out as an oasis of unshattered wildlife (especially birds). These areas, along with nearby Small War Island, are protected by the city's government as a nature preserve. (Wikipedia)
Beli Dvor or 'White Palace', house of royal family Karađorđević, is open for visitors. The palace has many valuable artworks, including Biagio d'Antonio, Albrecht Altdorfer, Piero di Cosimo, Palma Vecchio, Paolo Veronese, Nicolas Poussin, Simon Vouet, Charles Le Brun, Sebastian Bourdon, Eugene Delacroix and others. (Wikipedia)
On top of this, there are many parks, monuments, museums, cafés, restaurants and shops on both sides of the river. The hilltop Avala Monument and Avala Tower offer views over the city. Josip Broz Tito's mausoleum, called Kuća Cveća (The House of Flowers), and the nearby Topčider and Košutnjak parks are also popular, especially among visitors from the former Yugoslavia. (Wikipedia)
Ada Ciganlija is a former island on the Sava river, and Belgrade's biggest sports and recreational complex. Today it is connected with the right bank of the Sava via two causeways, creating an artificial lake. It is the most popular destination for Belgraders during the city's hot summers. There are 7 kilometres of long beaches and sports facilities for various sports including golf, football, basketball, volleyball, rugby union, baseball, and tennis. During summer there are between 200,000 and 300,000 bathers daily. Clubs work 24 hours a day, organizing live music and overnight beach parties. Extreme sports are available, such as bungee jumping, water skiing, and paintballing. There are numerous tracks on the island, where it is possible to ride a bike, go for a walk, or go jogging. (Wikipedia)
Apart from Ada, Belgrade has total of 16 islands on the rivers, many still unused. Among them, the Great War Island at the confluence of Sava, stands out as an oasis of unshattered wildlife (especially birds). These areas, along with nearby Small War Island, are protected by the city's government as a nature preserve. (Wikipedia)
Galați
Figure 9: Lupa Capitolina, Galați, Romania
Sites not to be missed in Galați:
1. Roman camp at Tirighina-Barbosi, north of the Danube, near the mouth of the Siret, site of the Tirighina Dacian fortress, where one can admire Dacian pottery, silver coins dating the Dacian fortress to the first century BCE, and coins dating from the rule of Augustus(63 BCE - 14 AD) through to Nero (37AD - 68AD). (Wikipedia)
2. Lambrinidi House, located near the university, at 51 Royal Street. It was built by Lambrinidi Epaminonda, a Greek mill owner. He owned a machine shop to repair ships. Prince Charles stayed at the house on a visit to Galati, in April 1879. It has served as the seat of the Court of Appeals; the Mihail Kogalniceanu High School and, after the earthquake of November 9, 1940, the city hall. (Wikipedia)
3. Robescu House built about 1896 by Ion Mincu. Robescu House has an elevated basement, two levels with two turret-balcony on the first floor and another balcony at the ground floor, to the street. The exterior decorations are made in Brancoveanu style, glossy ceramic plates. The glossy ceramic is used to decorate the floral upper register. Today it serves as the "Children's Palace". (Wikipedia)
4. Palace of Navigation (River Station), designed by Petre Antonescu. It dates to the late 1800s. It is the office of "Maritime Danube Ports Administration" and Navrom, which controls Romania's navigable waterways. (Wikipedia)
5. University Palace. This former "Palace of Justice" is a prominent architectural monument in the Galați old town. It was built between 1911 and 1913. Now, it is the university headquarters. (Wikipedia)
6. Lupa Capitolina, or "Capitoline Wolf", was erected in 1995 and reflects Roman influence in Galati. (Wikipedia)
7. Administrative Palace, erected in 1904 and 1905. Like Robescu House, it was designed by Ion Mincu. Frederick Storck contributed white marble sculptures of "industry" and "agriculture" at the top of the main façade. Other features are two bronze flags and a large clock which plays the waltz, "Danube Waves" by Joseph Ivanovich (1845–1902). (Wikipedia)
1. Roman camp at Tirighina-Barbosi, north of the Danube, near the mouth of the Siret, site of the Tirighina Dacian fortress, where one can admire Dacian pottery, silver coins dating the Dacian fortress to the first century BCE, and coins dating from the rule of Augustus(63 BCE - 14 AD) through to Nero (37AD - 68AD). (Wikipedia)
2. Lambrinidi House, located near the university, at 51 Royal Street. It was built by Lambrinidi Epaminonda, a Greek mill owner. He owned a machine shop to repair ships. Prince Charles stayed at the house on a visit to Galati, in April 1879. It has served as the seat of the Court of Appeals; the Mihail Kogalniceanu High School and, after the earthquake of November 9, 1940, the city hall. (Wikipedia)
3. Robescu House built about 1896 by Ion Mincu. Robescu House has an elevated basement, two levels with two turret-balcony on the first floor and another balcony at the ground floor, to the street. The exterior decorations are made in Brancoveanu style, glossy ceramic plates. The glossy ceramic is used to decorate the floral upper register. Today it serves as the "Children's Palace". (Wikipedia)
4. Palace of Navigation (River Station), designed by Petre Antonescu. It dates to the late 1800s. It is the office of "Maritime Danube Ports Administration" and Navrom, which controls Romania's navigable waterways. (Wikipedia)
5. University Palace. This former "Palace of Justice" is a prominent architectural monument in the Galați old town. It was built between 1911 and 1913. Now, it is the university headquarters. (Wikipedia)
6. Lupa Capitolina, or "Capitoline Wolf", was erected in 1995 and reflects Roman influence in Galati. (Wikipedia)
7. Administrative Palace, erected in 1904 and 1905. Like Robescu House, it was designed by Ion Mincu. Frederick Storck contributed white marble sculptures of "industry" and "agriculture" at the top of the main façade. Other features are two bronze flags and a large clock which plays the waltz, "Danube Waves" by Joseph Ivanovich (1845–1902). (Wikipedia)