Tiny bubbles rise from the source of the Danube in the palace gardens in Donaueschingen, Germany. The source is one of several karst springs and forms the start of the Donaubach brook. Over 100 meters from the source, the Donaubach joins with the Brigach river to form the Danube proper, which then flows over 2,800 km to the Black Sea. A sculptural group from 1896 depicts Mother Baar showing her daughter, the young Danube, the way eastward from the source.

1. Tiny water bubbles rise from the source – an
enchanting spectacle that adds to the charm of this
picturesque site.
The source of the Danube is one of several karst
springs in the palace gardens. The spring water, which
rises here, forms the "Donaubach", the Danube source
brook, and runs underground through the palace
gardens before flowing into the Brigach at the Danube
Temple, 100 metres away
From there, the Danube makes its long journey to the
Black Sea.
“Mother Baar” stands over the source of the Danube,
part of a sculptural group created by Adolf Heer in
1896. She is showing her daughter, the young Danube,
the way east.
50-150 LITRES
2800 KM
of water bubble from the source
of the Danube every second
is the distance the Danube
flows to the Black Sea
Danube Temple –
built at the
influx of the
Donaubach into
the Brigach.
BIRTHPLACE OF THE
YOUNG DANUBE
The world-famous source of the Danube, the
very heart of the town of Donaueschingen, is a
destination for visitors from far and wide and
a must-see for every Danube enthusiast.
The source is situated between the church of
St. Johann and the Fürstenberg Palace. What rises
from the ground here is Black Forest rainwater that
has flown underground to the edge of the Black
Forest to emerge as a spring in Donaueschingen.
Mother Baar showing
the young Danube
on her way.
wo man eines der Besten
Biere der Welt trinkt!
Süden ist
wo man eines der Besten
Biere der Welt trinkt!
Süden ist...
SOURCE OF THE DANUBE
GUIDED TOUR
Want to learn more about the facts, history
and myths of the source of the Danube?
Discover the source of Europe as part
of an exciting tour!
Further information and booking:
Tourist-Information Donaueschingen, Germany
Karlstraße 58 · 78166 Donaueschingen
Tel. +49 (0) 771 857-221
tourist.info@donaueschingen.de
www.donaueschingen.de
>>
Impressum
Große Kreisstadt Donaueschingen, Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts, represented by Mayor
Erik Pauly · Rathausplatz 1 · 78166 Donaueschingen · Tax ID no.: DE141909563 CONTACT:
© Amt Tourismus und Marketing 2022 · Andreas Haller · Karlstraße 58 · 78166 Donaueschingen ·
Germany · Tel. +49(0)771 857-220 · andreas.haller@donaueschingen.de TEXT: Ernst Zimmermann,
Dr. Andreas Wilts, Dr. Bernhard Everke, Andreas Haller PHOTOS: Tobias Raphael Ackermann
(Titelbild), Heinz Bunse, Frank de Rosso, Fürstlich Fürstenbergisches Archiv, Regierungspräsi-
dium Freiburg DESIGN: vico.visual concepts, Donaueschingen, www.vi-co.com PRINT: Druckerei
Meder, Donaueschingen
Beer from the black forest.
Fürstenberg.
Beer from the black forest.
www.donaueschingen.de
SOURCE OF THE DANUBE –
SOURCE OF EUROPE
EN

2. D
ORIGIN OF EUROPE‘S
DANUBE REGION
The Danube is the second longest river in Europe.
On its 2,800 km long journey from west to east it
flows through ten countries – more than any other
river on the planet.
Thus, the Danube connects people from different
cultural backgrounds, different languages, customs and
traditions. As a European lifeline, the river has shaped
the lives of the people who have settled along its banks
since antiquity. Between the Black Forest and the Black
Sea, the Danube weaves a bond that brings people
together and inspires them to explore their origins.
Even today, a visit to the source of the river is an emoti-
onal moment for many visitors from the countries along
the Danube. An ancient custom involves tossing a coin
over one’s shoulder into the source. This is supposed
to make wishes come true and ensure a return to
Donaueschingen one day.
Palace of the Princely House of Fürstenberg
Donaueschingen
Ulm
Regensburg Passau
RO
MDA
UKR
BG
The Donaubach was channelled underground and
directed to the Brigach by the shortest route. However,
this intervention meant that the source of the Danube in
Donaueschingen became hardly recognisable as such.
To remedy this situation and afford the source of the
Danube the attention it deserves, in 1875 Prince Karl
Egon III ordered the construction of a significantly more
elaborate enclosure. The construction was technically
very demanding, as the water level had to be artificially
lowered by means of two powerful pumps.
From 2013 to 2015, the source and its surroundings
underwent extensive refurbishment and can now be
enjoyed in all their glory. The enclosure and the
sculptural group were painstakingly restored, the wall
reinforced, and the source made accessible by means of
a wider staircase and a lift.
Black
Sea
Source of the Danube after 1828 Source of the Danube after 1896
Giurgiu
Silistra
Tulcea
Sulina
SRB
A HISTORICAL NAME
Numerous sources testify to the historical significance of
the source of the Danube in Donaueschingen.
The earliest testimony dates to the year 15 BC, when the
Roman general and later emperor Tiberius rode north from
Lake Constance and found “the sources of the Danube
after a day’s journey.” References to the source of the
Danube in Donaueschingen can also be found in many
medieval chronicles and maps. Sebastian Münster’s
Cosmographia, published in 1544, locates the source of
the Danube on a map with great accuracy. By that time,
the town was already known as Donaueschingen.
Its earlier name of Eschingen was first recorded as early
as 889. The depiction of the spring, however, differs from
its current round enclosure. In fact, for centuries it was
only enclosed by a simple rectangular wall. The Donau-
bach flowed freely past the Princely Palace and joined
the Brigach and the Breg further east. It was not until the
19th century that the appearance of the spring changed
fundamentally, and the wall was replaced with a
circular, wrought iron railing.
Source of the Danube, before 1821
Map by Sebastian Münster, 1544
Novi Sad
Belgrade
Turnu Severin
Calafat
A
SK
H
HR
A few hundred metres away, at the edge of the palace
gardens, the Brigach and the Breg join to form the
Danube. The confluence can be reached from the town
centre by a leisurely stroll along the Brigach past the
Fürstenberg Palace. As the old saying goes, “Brigach
und Breg bringen die Donau zu Weg ” (Brigach and
Breg unite to form the Danube), and the Danube can
be considered a river from here on.
A comprehensive programme of renaturation of the
two tributaries in 2022 will not only upgrade the con-
fluence area and surrounding wetlands ecologically, but
also make a lasting contribution to the quality of stay.
Confluence of the Breg and the Brigach
Linz
Vienna
Vác
Bratislava
Budapest