The historic tour

Stay: Hotel Eisvogel
The Zettl-Feldmann family’s chalet-style hideout leans into the region’s long-standing Kur tradition of providing a retreat from everyday life. With four saunas, treatments using local hops, a bathhouse and plenty of fresh air, the focus is definitively feel-good. Hotel Eisvogel, 93333 Neustadt an der Donau

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Castle climb: Prunn Castle
Best known as the discovery site of the Nibelungenlied manuscript, the early thirteenth-century feudal castle’s commanding, strategic position means it has fantastic views across the Altmühl valley. Prunn Castle, 93339 Riedenburg

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Historic exploring: Befreiungshalle
From the outside, Liberation Hall is theatrical and grand, built on top of Mount Michelsberg to commemorate victory over Napoleon in 1815. Most impactful, though, is the circle of white marble goddesses inside, holding hands as a symbol of the German states’ unity. Befreiungshalle, 93309 Kelheim

Boat trip: Kelheim to Weltenburg Abbey
Slow the pace right down by hopping on one of the river boats that meander up and down the Danube. The 45-minute journey passes through a fairytale landscape of sheer limestone cliffs, carved stone age caves and mythical outcrops. Kelheim to Weltenburg Abbey, 93309 Kelheim

Lunch: Klosterschenke Biergarten
Take a seat in the abbey courtyard, under the chestnut and linden trees, for a traditional Bavarian feast of crisp-skinned pork knuckle, dumplings and cabbage, washed down with a glass of smooth dark lager from the world’s oldest running monastic brewery. Klosterschenke Biergarten, 93309 Kelheim

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Monastery tour: Weltenburg Abbey
Tucked into the bend of the river, this extraordinary historic site was founded around 600 AD for the Benedictine monks. The Asamkirche inside is Baroque through and through, dressed in a theatrical riot of frescoes and gilt work, in total contrast with the abbey’s otherwise serene setting. *Weltenburg Abbey, 93309 Kelheim

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Boat trip: Weltenburg Abbey to Kelheim
The return journey shifts perspective as the afternoon light sharpens the rock formations and reveals details missed earlier – fissures, ledges and pockets of greenery clinging to vertical stone. A slow recalibration back towards Kelheim’s busier riverbanks. Weltenburg Abbey to Kelheim

Local culture: Kuchlbauer’s World of Beer and Hundertwasser Tower
Designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser and completed posthumously, this whimsical folly towers above the Kuchlbauer brewery. An immersive exhibition explores the culture and craft of beer, delving into the deeply rooted Bavarian brewing traditions. Kuchlbauer’s World of Beer and Hundertwasser Tower, 93326 Abensberg

Dinner: Eisvogel restaurant
After a day diving into Bavaria’s history, it feels fitting to finish with the regional menu in the hotel restaurant – leberknödel liver dumpling soup, medallions of perch, venison goulash and Bratwurst sausages, with vegetables from nearby Feldmann Farm. Hotel Eisvogel, 93333 Neustadt an der Donau

Head to: Ingolstadt Village
Complimentary parking and electric vehicle charging points at the Village make for a smooth arrival. Those in the know sign up for its membership programme in advance for news of new-in collections and private sales. Ingolstadt Village, 85055 Ingolstadt

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Caffeine fix: Ladurée Salon de Thé
The pastel-toned Parisian outpost has all the green and black tea blends and herbal infusions, along with very good coffee, plus signature macarons and the lesser-known – but just as delicious – biscuity Eugénies. Ladurée Salon de Thé, Ingolstadt Village

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Shop: Bogner
Probably the first pioneer of ‘athluxury’ when it launched in the 1930s, Bogner’s skiwear has always held a kind of retro elegance, whilst also keeping up to speed with the best performance fabrics. Bogner, Ingolstadt Village

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Shop: Balenciaga
All the exaggerated streetwear silhouettes and logo splashes that the brand does so well are here, but under the direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli, some sleeker, more technical shapes will be trickling in. Balenciaga, Ingolstadt Village

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Lunch: Indochine
Chef David Tran takes the ever-evolving menu on a tour around Vietnam, Thailand and Japan, plucking out the best crowd-pleasing bites and adding some herby, citrussy surprises and fiery curries. Indochine, Ingolstadt Village

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Shop: Tod’s
The Tod’s Gommino driving loafer, with its rubber pebbled sole, is an instantly recognisable wardrobe statement, as is its iconic Di bag – but the brand’s Italian craftsmanship runs through its sneakers, accessories and sunglasses too. Tod’s, Ingolstadt Village

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Shop: LOEWE
Jonathan Anderson led Spanish fashion house LOEWE to become one of fashion’s most intellectually engaging labels. But creative direction from the Proenza Schouler founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez looks set to continue the focus on craft and art, perhaps with a more minimal eye. LOEWE, Ingolstadt Village

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Shop: LODENFREY
LODENFREY is a beloved Munich institution, championing Bavarian textiles since 1842 and simultaneously managing to make traditional costume – Dirndls and capes, Lederhosen and velvet slippers – feel utterly current. LODENFREY, Ingolstadt Village

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Spa evening: Hotel Eisvogel
Return to sink into the swimming pool, wind down in the infrared cabin or try one of the steamy baths – natural sulphur, beer or goat’s milk are all on the menu. Hotel Eisvogel, 93333 Neustadt an der Donau