Discover Donaueschingen

If you are looking for a hotel in Donaueschingen, you can plan your trip around a range of interests. At the Danube Source, the history of the spring and the princely residence meet side by side; collections, art and music add to the cultural offering. For cyclists, the town is also the starting point of the Danube Cycle Path. These themes offer different perspectives on your stay: you can choose Donaueschingen for its spring and architectural history, focus on culture, or see the town as the starting point for a cycling trip.

The Danube Source, the palace and architectural history

The Danube Source rises directly beside the princely palace in Donaueschingen; the residence lies in an expansive park with old trees, atmospheric ponds and streams. The palace park is ideal for a stroll. Prince Karl Egon III zu Fürstenberg had the present-day structure around the Danube Source built in 1875. The Danube Temple has stood since 1910 at the spot where the water from the Danube Source flows into the Brigach; it was extensively restored in 2016.

The Church of St. Johann stands directly beside the enclosed Danube Source. It was built between 1724 and 1747 in the Bohemian Baroque style. Donaueschingen Palace is considered one of the most significant Belle Époque residences in Germany. The source and its surroundings therefore bring together historic buildings from different periods.

Collections, art and music

At Karlsplatz, the Princely Collections of the House of Fürstenberg present minerals and fossils, a natural history collection and contemporary art across around 2,500 square metres. The natural history collection includes numerous specimens, most of which are around 150 years old. The collection brings natural history and art together under one roof.

The Donaueschingen Music Festival is a world-renowned festival of world premieres. Since 1921, it has showcased experimental forms of contemporary music and sound art; the programme includes orchestral and ensemble concerts, electronic performances and sound art. When choosing between these cultural offerings, the format also matters: the collections foreground natural history and art, while the Music Festival brings experimental music and sound art together with concerts and performances.

Museum Art.Plus offers guided tours and workshops for all ages alongside its exhibitions. If these activities are important to your travel plans, check the current dates before your trip.

A stroll or a cycling trip

Donaueschingen is the starting point of the Danube Cycle Path. From here, cyclists can explore the first 300 kilometres of the Danube; the first two days of cycling follow the young river through unspoilt landscapes. This makes Donaueschingen the starting point for a longer stretch of a cycling trip. By contrast, a stroll through the palace park is a local activity. This difference in scale can help you decide whether to see the town as a starting point for cycling or as a destination for a culture-focused stay.

Discover more destinations: Aasen, Blumberg, Neukirch, Furtwangen in the Black Forest, Hüfingen, Unterkirnach, Kappel, Bräunlingen.

Back to the regional travel overview: Schwarzwald-Baar District.