The city of Kelheim is located along the Danube River in the Bavarian region of Germany, southwest of Regensburg.

Historically, Kelheim would gladly have been the Bavarian country capital. Yet the murder of the Wittelsbacher duke, Ludwig I, in 1231 moved its successors to transfer the capital to Munich. As Kelheim did not flourish into the country's center of commerce, the picturesque city of the fated duke remained.

The reinforcements of the 13th century are still visible: the reinforcement walls, all three gate towers and some sections of the moat. Also, both main streets still reflect the life of a manorial city.