Weissenkirchen in der Wachau

Weissenkirchen in der Wachau is the Danube village that most photographs of the Wachau valley use: the fortified Gothic church above the riverbank, pale painted historical houses along the waterfront, vineyard terraces rising steeply behind. First documented in 830, wine-producing continuously since the medieval period. The village is on the south bank of the Danube, most easily reached by cycling the Wachau Radweg or by the seasonal ferry from the north bank. The Wachau Museum in the village covers the region’s wine history. Walk up to the church terrace for the best view over the Danube bend. In April the apricot orchards on the surrounding slopes are in bloom; in September the harvest is underway. Either is a better time to visit than midsummer, when the cycling and boat tour crowds reach their peak.