Metten: Monastery Gardens, Culture and Trails

Gardens and the Monastery Complex

The Prelate’s Garden adjoins the monastery grounds to the west. It was created on the site of the abbey’s former hop garden and opened in 2007. To the south of the Baroque garden section is a separate, open garden: it is set lower than its surroundings by stone seating steps and planted with native fruit tree varieties. This means you can consider two different garden areas when planning your visit without treating them as a single garden.

The Baroque library of Metten Abbey is another possible reason to visit. Its Baroque interior and design were commissioned between 1720 and 1722. The library can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Tours take place Tuesday to Saturday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and on Sundays and public holidays at 3 p.m. Check the schedule with the abbey before your visit so you can factor it into your day’s plans.

Cycling and Hiking Trails Around Metten

Metten is a starting point for many cycling and hiking trails, including routes away from the Danube. The pilgrimage route Via Nova is one of the long-distance cycling routes that pass through Metten. The Via Nova through the Bavarian Forest is described as a cycling and hiking route for which Metten is named as a starting point. These details offer different kinds of orientation: one places the Via Nova among long-distance cycling routes, while the other names Metten as the starting point of a cycling and hiking route through the Bavarian Forest.

Another specific route detail concerns the seventh stage of the Danube Panorama Trail. It runs from Metten to Deggendorf, following the river all the way. This lets you identify the stage as a distinct section between two named places. Check local conditions before setting out. When planning, it is also helpful to distinguish between routes that pass through Metten and those for which the town is named as a starting point.

More Places for Exercise and Relaxation

At Eichenhain, an exercise trail was set up on a green space or playground at the edge of the “Kälberweide” residential area. It includes fitness equipment and quiet areas. This brings together opportunities for exercise and places to relax, without requiring you to follow a particular route.

During the 2023–2024 project period, the existing outdoor swimming pool owned by the market town of Metten was converted into an inclusive natural swimming pool. The dates indicate when the conversion took place; for planning your stay, this is a different kind of destination from gardens, the library or trails. Check the current information about the pool before visiting.

Further Impressions in the Deggendorf Destination

In the wider Deggendorf destination, historic viewpoints add to the options for exploring the area. Natternberg Castle Ruins can be reached via footpaths from three sides; from there, the view extends across the Gäuboden plain and into the Bavarian Forest. Winzer Castle Ruins are noted for their views over the Danube valley. These places and views are part of the Deggendorf destination and should not be regarded as features of the gardens or trails in Metten.

The landscape of the Deggendorf region also spans different elevations and areas: from the heights of the Bavarian Forest across the Danube landscape and the Isar estuary to the Gäuboden plain. Elevations there range from 200 to 1,150 metres above sea level. When choosing your accommodation, you can weigh up different travel interests: gardens and monastery visits, a guided tour, cycling or hiking routes, and additional landscape impressions in the wider Deggendorf destination.

Discover more destinations: Lalling, Grattersdorf, Deggendorf, Hunding, Grafling, Schöllnach.

Go to the broader travel overview: Deggendorf district.