Danube-Networkers

How the Schloegen Loop was formed and how the devil was involved

Text: Margit Tischberger, Birgit Meinhard-Schiebel

Translation: Kitty Weinberger

Pictures: Margit Tischberger

Thousands of years ago the movement of the earth’s crust and erosions caused a double turn-around of the Danube – today called the “Schlögen Loop’. It is a 180° meander which enables the river to circumflow the rocks. The famous Danube loop, a natural phenomenon, is the result. The lock chambers are 240 by 40 meters large, the height of the drop is 10.600 meters. Vernacular has it that the Danube likes to flow back once more in order to see the wonderful countryside again.

At the beginning of this striking river scenery – still within the area of the Jochenstein lock – there is a rock in the middle of the Danube with a tiny chapel on top. In the underflow of this lock the German Danube ends; a mermaid at the shore is a reminder of the legend of the Danube mermaid Isa, who is said to have lived, once upon a time, on the Jochenstein. But the Jochenstein is the devil’s evildoing. Enraged, he broke off a huge rock from the Donauleite in order to annoy the pious inhabitants of Jochenstein. But the devil missed and so the rock landed in the Danube. You can find traces of his hooves on the rock. The tale of the Jochenstein is part of Austrian legend, and thus also a popular tourist destination. It is mentioned in guidebooks as a natural monument.

The Schloegen Loop is not only a popular tourist destination, it is also a nature reserve. Dam building beavers have been moved there. One can also find there some botanical rarities: Turk’s cap lilies, the ramiform grass lily, the black stemmed and evergreen maidenhair, a delight for florists.

On the left shore of the Danube is the House at the River, a modern environmental centre, with water as the central topic. Even the glass elevator is powered purely by water and not by electricity.

The Schloegen Loop has a special significance as a natural monument along the entire Danube.