Donau-Ries

Donau-Ries is a rural district in Swabia that covers gently rolling countryside with farmland and forests. Two rivers flow through the area, connecting small towns and shaping how the landscape is organized.

People lived in this area since Roman times, and it grew into an important trade route across the centuries. The district as it exists today came together in 1972 when two older administrative regions merged.

Each town here shows local traditions through yearly festivals, folk dancing, and regional crafts that reflect how people connect to the land. You can see these customs in how the communities gather and celebrate together throughout the year.

The main town of Donauwörth connects to other Bavarian cities by train and has visitor information about local sights and museums. Exploring the smaller towns scattered across the area works best with a car or train since distances between them can be considerable.

The area contains an ancient meteorite impact crater called the Ries that formed millions of years ago and still shapes the landscape today. This crater even changed the soil beneath the surface, influencing how farming has developed in different parts of the region.

Location: Swabia

Inception: July 1, 1972

Capital city: Donauwörth

Elevation above the sea: 508 m

Shares border with: Ansbach, Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, Eichstätt district, Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, Aichach-Friedberg, Augsburg, Dillingen, district Heidenheim, Ostalbkreis, Polsingen, Westheim

Website: http://donau-ries.de

GPS coordinates: 48.83000,10.67000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 19:43