Kamp

The Kamp is a river in northern Austria, flowing 168 kilometres from its source near Liebenau to its junction with the Danube. It rises on the border of Lower and Upper Austria in the Mühlviertel highlands. The river passes through small towns such as Rappottenstein, Zwettl and Gars am Kamp before reaching the Kamptal vineyards. The southern side of the valley belongs to one of Austria’s recognised wine regions. Before the 1970s the Kamp met the Danube near Grafenwörth, but a hydropower plant at Altenwörth redirected its course. The Kamp’s 2,177-square-kilometre catchment area supports a steady flow that once powered numerous mills along its banks. Its main tributary, the Kleine Kamp, joins near Rappottenstein in the upper reaches. Another tributary, the Krems, was rerouted into the Kamp when the Altenwörth works were built. The river’s clear water still reflects the forested hills and vineyard slopes of the Kamptal. Visitors follow the Kamp on foot or by bicycle along well-marked paths that run beside vineyards and through villages. The riverbank paths lead past old mill buildings and small harbours where fishing boats once tied up. In autumn the valley is busy with grape harvests, while in summer the water is popular for gentle canoeing. The Kamp’s quiet stretches offer views of the surrounding countryside and distant vineyard terraces.