Kelheim, Germany Cruises

Kelheim, Germany Cruise Port

Kelheim is a municipality and town in Germany’s Free State of Bavaria. It is the capital of the district that shares its name and it has a population of over 15,000 people. The town is a cruise port at the confluence of two major rivers, the famous Danube to the south and the Altmuhl to the north. One of the town’s settlements dates back to the Iron Age. In its wake are a number of raised lands and short ramparts around the Danube shores that long ago were used for fortification. There is also a large Iron Age oppidum in the town from the La Tene period, which archeologists tentatively believe to be the Celtic city of Alcimoennis. Kelheim has a wonderfully preserved old quarter with gates and towers from the Middle Ages. There are also a number of old, beautiful churches, one of which is considered the oldest abbey in Bavaria.

• Weltenburg Abbey is regarded as the oldest in Bavaria and it has an inside so detailed and grand, it’s clear the architecture is one-of-a-kind. The abbey is unique in that it also has its own brewery on site.
   
• The Befreiungshalle Kelheim is an impressive monument in honor of the Germanic triumph of Emperor Napoleon. There are many steps to the top, but the trip it worth it.
   
• Mittertor is an old town in the region with quaint buildings, various shops, and a large clock in the center of the square, straight above a simple arch.
   
• The Altar Friedhof can be found in an old cemetery beside St. Sebastian chapel. The altar dates back to the early baroque period but despite its age, the structure has held up fairly well.