Luxury cruise ship Avalon inspires guests in Mauthausen!

Luxury cruise ship Avalon inspires guests in Mauthausen!

Last Sunday, June 2, 2025, the luxurious Danube cabin ship Avalon created 158 international guests in Mauthausen. This dazzling arrival once again underlines the popularity of cruises on the Danube and cracked first place in the landings in the region, such as Tips. The guests had the opportunity to visit the impressive Mauthausen Memorial and the magnificent baroque pen St. Florian. In addition, a guided bike tour for a local vegetable farmer in Naarn was on the program.

The tourism association Mauthausen, under the direction of Gottfried Kraft, has been trying intensively in the past eight years to change the image of the region in the heads of the ship guests. "It is important to us to present Mauthausen as a place of hospitality and a connection between history and culture," said Kraft when greeting the guests. At the monthly receptions on board, visitors are not only informed about the region, but can also enjoy the variety of regional specialties.

Culinary delights and entertainment

At an evening reception on board, which Cruise Director Vlad and moderator Markus initiated, the latter told exciting stories about the Danube market and the role of the night watchman. This tradition from the past was brought to life by the historic night watchman Gottfried. The guests were able to commit themselves to a buffet of regional pastries, including Linzer and Sachertorte as well as homemade apple strudel, which were accompanied by a fine nut schnapps.

Musically, the evening was accompanied by the artist Heimo and Hildegard, who played on the Styrian harmonica. The melodies ensured that some guests swung their legs while others enjoyed the good food and conviviality. Not to forget the colored Mauthausen postcards that were distributed to the guests at the end of the evening-a nice souvenir of the intercultural exchange.

a ray of hope despite flooding

Despite the challenges of flooding, as was the last on June 10, 2024, when it was unsure whether a ship was put from Mauthausen to Linz, the demand for luxurious river trips remains unbroken. Guests from America and Canada also sought the closeness to the history here, announced Mauthausen Tourismus. Wing tour guide through the concentration camp memorial and the information about regional traditions such as the gold hood were new and exciting for many.

In a separate visit to the memorial, recently carried out by Federal Minister Martin Polaschek, new materials for school classes were presented, preparing the visits to the memorial. The victims of the November pogroms were reminded, and the pupils read the biographies of these victims. Such initiatives are of central importance to keep history alive and inform future generations, such as [Mauthausen Memorial] (https://www.mauthausen-memorial.org/aktuell/bundesminister-polaschek-beschen-undstaette-und-praesente-neu-fuer-Fuer-Vises- von-school classes) emphasizes.

Mauthausen shows that the connection between hospitality, history and culture is not only an important asset, but also a way to promote the dialogue between cultures. The events related to the Avalon ship and the memorial are signs of a lively and open-hearted community.