Exploring cultures and communities – the slow way

A mock Greek temple on a bluff above the River Danube turns out to be a good spot to reflect on what it means to be German. Walhalla is a national hall of fame - a sort of Bavarian version of the Panthéon in Paris.

article summary —

The traveller who follows the Danube upstream through central Europe will discover many iconic buildings. In Budapest, there is the striking Gothic Revival Országház, the Hungarian parliament building which was conceived as a symbol of national identity. Moving upstream there are buildings which speak of Catholic power: the great basilica at Esztergom in Hungary and the huge baroque abbey at Melk in Lower Austria.

In the roll call of fine buildings which grace the Danube Valley, few can match the mock Greek temple at Donaustauf as an expression of secular authority with a nod to religious conviction. Modelled on the Parthenon in Athens, the Walhalla memorial is an idiosyncratic hall of fame which honours the greatest Germans who ever lived — generally favouring worthies of Christian persuasion. Catholic credentials were especially helpful in securing a place on this Bavarian fast track to immortality. Martin Luther didn’t make the first cut and only secured a place in this German pantheon well after it was inaugurated by King Ludwig I in 1842.


This is just an excerpt. If you are a subscriber to hidden europe magazine, you can log in to read the full text online. Of course you can also read the full article in the print edition of hidden europe 47.

About the authors

hidden europe

and manage hidden europe, a Berlin-based editorial bureau that supplies text and images to media across Europe. Together they edit hidden europe magazine. Nicky and Susanne are dedicated slow travellers. They delight in discovering the exotic in the everyday.

This article was published in hidden europe 47.