Kelheim Things to Do

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Donautor is the main gate from the Donau river side. It was built in 13th century and has coat of arms of Kelheim. Almuhltor is the gate leading to Atmuhl river, and it come from 1410 construction. Mittertor is from the 13th century and was used as a Customs House to collect taxes.
All were renovated in 1809 to upgrade and make all look similar.

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There are four main churches in the town center are. The biggest and most used today is Church of the Assumption and it was having services while we were there on Sunday. The Franciscan church and organ museum featured in brochures is NO longer. It is fenced up and apparently said to be private ownership now. It was built in 1461 and finished in 1506. Secularizatioin in 1802 desecrated the church

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This monument was intended to replicate some of the style of Italian/Roman monuments of the MIddle Ages. It was to look somewhat like the Pantheon, but also have inside symbols like the Parthenon. Well, this monument surpasses both in some regards. It has a large dome that is detail sectioned of stucco and designs. The10 feet tall angels that surround the rotunda area are huge and great symbols of dignity and elegance. The marble floor has super designs and sayings to describe the sacrifice in staying free and war is a necessity at times.

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King Ludwig I of BAvaria ordered this monument be erected to remember the victory over Napoleon in the War for Liberation in 1813-13. It started construction in 1842, and got completed in 1863. There are many sayings imbedded in the stone walls and the marble floors to remind GErmans not to forgot the struggle for freedom and sacrifices made. The exterior facade has 18 figures surrounding the circular monument to symbolize the 18 German tribes.
Entry fee is 4 Euro and the tour self guided may take about 1 hour or more if you look at the great detail. This is not to be rivaled by many other monuments that I know of.

You really have to visit Kloster Weltenburg.
From Kelheim you can go there by Ship or if you like to walk there are some nice paths through the forests of the Donau Durchbruch. Walking takes about 1 1/2 hours if you are really slow...
Then you have to get over the Danube with a Fähre which is really nice.
If you are inside the Kloser take a look at the Adams Kirche (church). It is one of the most beautiful gothic curches in this area.
After this you can relax in the Biergarten, where the best beer (I know what I'm saying, I'm bavarian) is served - the Kloster Dunkel (don't be surprised, it's dark)
By the way The Kloster Weltenburg brewery is the oldest brewery in the world!

Kelheim looks to be a lovely little town hugging the banks of the Danube. Especially pretty in the fall as shown here with the leaves changing. This was one of the few days that we saw any sun in Germany.

The thing up on the hill--at first glance it looks like some sort of Bavarian watertower. However, in actuality it is a monument built by King Ludwig the first to honor the victories in the Napoleanic wars. The place is called Befeiungshalle. Literally it translates as "release hall" but I suspect it would be better thought of as a liberty hall.

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during the walking we constantly saw this building, so we had to go to it to see what it was: the befreiungshalle. Very impressive, the big sculptures on and in this monument