"Weltenburger Enge" (aka "Donaudurchbruch bei Weltenburg" is the "Danube Gorge" near the Weltenburg Monastery. The gorge is enclosed on either side by rock faces up to 80 metres high. The Danube narrows by up to 110 metres and attains a depth of 20 metres.

The area was designated as a natural monument under King Ludwig I of Bavaria as early as 1840.

All along rivers existed towpaths, as up to the 19th century towing was the only way to move boats upstream. As towing was impossible within the "Weltenburger Narrowness" people used long spearlike rods with hooks and these iron rings to pull the boat upstream.