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Leitheim
Bavaria, Germany
Castles
Photo by Reinhardhauke, license: CC BY-SA 3.0
Leitheim is a small settlement on the Danube in the Donau-Ries district of Bavarian Swabia, in the broad valley between Donauwörth and Ingolstadt. The hamlet is defined by Schloss Leitheim, a Baroque castle from around 1700 that sits on a terrace directly above the Danube, featuring an ornate Rococo hall with elaborate stucco work and a vineyard house below. Today operating as a spa hotel and owned by the Messerschmitt Foundation, the estate is one of Bavaria's most refined smaller castle properties. The Romantic Road passes through the area, and the Altmühl Nature Park — a vast landscape park of limestone hills and river meadows ideal for cycling and canoeing — begins just north of the Danube. The nearby abbey of Kaisheim, one of the finest Cistercian monasteries in Bavaria, adds further cultural depth.
Schloss LeitheimDanube settingRomantic Road
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Things to Do
- •Stay at Hotel Schloss Leitheim, the Baroque castle hotel on the Danube terrace, and explore its Rococo ceremonial hall
- •Take a guided tour of Schloss Leitheim's interiors, including the celebrated stucco-decorated Baroque hall
- •Cycle the Danube Cycle Path (EuroVelo 6) along the riverside between Donauwörth and Ingolstadt, passing Leitheim
- •Explore the Cistercian abbey of Kaisheim, 3 km north, one of the finest medieval monastery complexes in Bavarian Swabia
- •Canoe the Altmühl river through the Altmühl Nature Park, which begins just north of Donauwörth
- •Visit Donauwörth, a well-preserved Bavarian town at the confluence of the Danube and Wörnitz, 8 km west
Nearby Attractions
- Donauwörth — a charming market town at the Danube-Wörnitz confluence with a painted main street, the Reichsstrasse, 8 km west
- Kaisheim Abbey — a magnificent Cistercian monastery with an outstanding Gothic church, 3 km north
- Harburg Castle — one of the best-preserved medieval hilltop castles in Bavaria, looming above the Wörnitz valley, 20 km north
- Altmühl Nature Park — one of Germany's largest nature parks, excellent for canoeing, cycling and limestone hiking
- Augsburg — one of Germany's oldest Roman cities with a Renaissance old town, the Fuggerei and Baroque cathedral, 60 km south
Monthly Weather
January
1°/-6°
Least crowded
40mm
Cold and quiet. The Danube valley is still and misty.
Cold and quiet. Good for a Baroque castle spa break.
February
4°/-5°
Least crowded
35mm
Still cold. Some sunny days begin.
Still cold. The hotel is a warm refuge.
March
9°/-1°
45mm
Early spring. The Danube banks begin to warm up.
Early spring. The Danube cycle path begins to be usable.
April
14°/4°
50mm
Fresh spring weather. The Danube cycle path opens up.
Fresh and good for cycling.
May
19°/8°
Best weather
65mm
Warm and lush. Excellent for cycling and Danube walks.
Excellent. The Danube and Altmühl are beautiful.
June
23°/12°
Best weather
75mm
Warm and pleasant. The castle gardens are at their best.
Warm and lovely. The castle gardens are at their peak.
July
25°/14°
80mm
Warmest month. The Danube cycle path is busy.
Best weather. The cycle path and river are superb.
August
25°/14°
75mm
Warm and sunny. Great for the Danube and Altmühl.
Hot and pleasant. Great for the Danube and Altmühl park.
September
20°/9°
Best weather
55mm
Mild and clear. One of the finest months on the Danube.
One of the best months. Clear and mild.
October
14°/4°
50mm
Autumn colour on the Danube valley slopes.
Autumn colour on the valley slopes.
November
6°/-1°
Least crowded
45mm
Cold and grey. The castle and abbey are quiet.
Quiet. Good for a peaceful castle break.
December
1°/-6°
40mm
Cold and often frosty. The Danube valley is peaceful.
Cold and still. The Baroque castle is a beautiful winter retreat.
Best weatherLeast crowded