Schlögener Donauschlinge loops

The Danube Valley has an exceptionally aesthetic appearance, and its highlight is almost certainly here where the river wends its way through the Schlögener Donauschlinge loops. Nature displays its power and beauty at this location. Bodies of water have always been of significance to humankind, and the Danube has played and continues to play an important role in this regard due to shipping on the river. Wine growing is a less well-known pursuit in the Danube Valley. Vineyards were established here in the river ravines and in the low-lying areas of Upper Austria between 1,000 and 1,300 A.D., the Mediaeval Warm Period. A small wine growing area with walls and staircases was situated at the same elevation as IInzell, on the left slope of the Danube Valley, but is completely overgrown by shrubbery today. However, wine is now being grown again in Hilkering near the town of Aschach. The Danube’s S-loop at the Donauschlinge Schlögen was named a ‘Natural Wonder of Upper Austria’ in 2008. This rarity – known as an epigenetic breakthrough valley – was formed as the Danube carved a meandering course through the soft tertiary layers and was subsequently forced to maintain its channel on the hard granite rock. The later lifting of the landmass caused the Danube to carve a nearly 300-metre-deep course into the earth, thereby creating the narrow valley which forms a nearly full circle at the Schlögener Donauschlinge.

Donauschlinge Schlögen – Naturwunder Oberösterreich
Kirchenplatz 4
4083 Haibach ob der Donau
Phone: +43 7279 8235
haibach@oberoesterreich.at