The Weltenburger Enge is one of the most famous natural treasures in Bavaria. First and foremost, this has to do with the imposing rocky backdrop of the Danube Gorge between Weltenburg Abbey and Kelheim. But also with the primeval mixed beech forests there, in which all sorts of rare woodpecker and bat species live. The Weltenburger Enge has therefore been awarded a large number of predicates. It is a nature reserve under German and European law, one of the most outstanding geotopes in the Free State and the only national natural monument in Bavaria.
On top of that, the Council of Europe awarded her its European diploma. In Bavaria, only the Bavarian Forest and Berchtesgaden National Parks are allowed to adorn themselves with the “European Diploma for Protected Areas”, as the high rating is officially called. The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, is an association of 26 countries. He is primarily committed to respecting human rights, but is also dedicated to nature conservation. The Council of Europe has nothing to do with the EU and its institutions.
Now a report by the Council of Europe calls for increased protection of the Weltenburg narrows. The reason is that in the warm seasons, thousands of people seeking relaxation, recreational athletes and tourists come to the area every day – on land, but above all on water. Some row and paddle in canoes, dinghies and all sorts of other vehicles down and sometimes up the Danube. The others take one of the many excursion boats between Kelheim and the world-famous Benedictine Abbey. And then there are the Zille. At Weltenburg Monastery, cyclists and hikers can cross over in barges. You can also book them for trips to Kelheim and back.
“When the weather is nice, the Weltenburger Enge is literally overrun,” complains Peter-Michael Schmalz. “There is overtourism here that can no longer be reconciled with the preservation of sensitive nature.” The head of the state association for bird protection (LBV) in the region knows the Weltenburg narrows better than few others. For almost 40 years he has been mapping all possible species of amphibians and bats there. Like the Bund Naturschutz, Schmalz is calling for protection to be expanded in the 900-hectare area, which also includes the “Hirschberg and Altmühlleiten” nature reserve.
More staff should monitor compliance with the new rules
Robert Brunner shares Schmalz’s assessment. The former head of the Lower Austrian Thayatal National Park assessed the Weltenburg Narrows on behalf of the Council of Europe in 2021 and has now made a number of demands to improve its protection. The central requirement is the blocking of the right bank of the Danube – viewed downstream – for paddlers, hikers and walkers alike, but also for anglers. Such an entry ban is to be introduced at least in sections on the left bank of the Danube. There are said to be restrictions on shipping on the Danube itself – both in terms of the number of trips between Weltenburg and Kelheim and the speed of the passenger ships and Zillen.
In the forests around Weltenburg Abbey, Brunner calls for targeted guidance of hikers, walkers and cyclists. They should only be allowed to walk on official, marked paths, all other paths and paths should be taboo for them. On the Danube, too, Brunner recommends designating a corridor for passenger ships and zills as well as boats used by recreational athletes and hobby captains. In addition, the expert from the Council of Europe calls for more staff for the nature reserve to monitor compliance with the new rules.
Brunner’s demands are pretty much the same as those of the environmental groups. The dispute over the protection of the Weltenburg narrows came to a head two years ago. From the point of view of the nature conservationists, the reason for this was completely exaggerated tree felling actions by the Bavarian State Forests. After massive criticism, the cuts were stopped. In the meantime, large parts of the forests have been classified as natural forests, in which forestry no longer takes place. And the government of Lower Bavaria has drafted a new ordinance for the nature reserve.
From the point of view of the environmental organizations, the paper is unsuitable. “It doesn’t bring any improvements,” says Schmalz, “but leaves everything as it was.” Schmalz is therefore happy to have the support of Brunner’s expert opinion. If his demands are not met, the Weltenburger Enge could ultimately be stripped of his European diploma. “But that,” Schmalz hopes, “the authorities here won’t really want to risk.”