This Bavarian town along the Danube River has deep Renaissance roots as Albrecht Dürer's birthplace and includes a grand Benedictine monastery with Baroque interiors.
Donauwörth lies where the Danube and Wörnitz rivers meet in Bavaria, Germany. Walk down the medieval Reichsstraße to see the ornate facade of the 16th-century Fuggerhaus and the towering spires of the Gothic Liebfrauenmünster church. You can explore the Käthe Kruse doll museum to watch artisans create the same handmade dolls that have made this town famous since the early 1900s, or climb the 14th-century Rieder Gate for views across the old town.
Getting to Donauwörth
The railway station connects directly to Munich (1h15min), Nuremberg, Stuttgart, and Ulm. You'll find the station southwest of the center, behind the peninsula formed by the Wörnitz and Danube rivers. By car, reach Donauwörth via the B16, B2, or B25 roads, with the A8 motorway passing nearby through Augsburg.
Walking the Reichsstraße
The main street, Reichsstraße, extends from the Holy Cross Monastery to the town hall, following an old trade route between Nuremberg and Augsburg. Look up at the Fuggerhaus to see its intricate Renaissance carvings and painted facade from 1536. The Liebfrauenmünster church, built in 1444, welcomes visitors to climb its tower in summer for views across the two rivers and Bavarian countryside.
Museums and Cultural Sites
Visit the town museum inside the Rieder Gate, or explore the Archaeological Museum in the restored 14th-century Tanzhaus (Dance Hall) on Reichsstraße. At the Käthe Kruse Doll Museum, you can watch craftspeople make the same style of dolls that first gained worldwide recognition in the early 1900s. The museum displays original Käthe Kruse dolls alongside current productions.
Religious Buildings
The 11th-century Holy Cross Monastery overlooks the town center. The monastery church displays what local tradition identifies as a fragment of the cross from the Crusades. Walk through the monastery gardens and cemetery, where you'll find the 1256 tomb of Duchess Maria of Brabant.
Along the Rivers
Take the tree-lined 19th-century Promenade path along the rivers to reach the Mangoldfelsen, the rock where Castle Mangold once stood. The meeting point of the Danube and Wörnitz creates several islands, including Ried island - the site of the town's first settlement according to local stories.
Practical Information
The tourist office in Rathausgasse, next to the town hall, opens weekday mornings and afternoons, plus weekend afternoons. Listen for the town hall's Glockenspiel at 11:00 and 16:00 daily. A road tunnel beneath the castle hill keeps cars away from the narrow medieval streets in the center, making it easy to explore on foot.
