Walhalla Memorial

The Walhalla near Donaustauf, just east of Regensburg, is a hall of fame built in the form of a Greek temple, high above the Danube River. King Ludwig I of Bavaria created it to honor great figures of the German-speaking world, and today more than 130 marble busts and dozens of plaques line its walls. Modeled on the Parthenon in Athens, it is one of the most striking monuments in Germany and an easy half-day trip from Regensburg.

Where it is and how to get there

The Walhalla stands on a hill above the village of Donaustauf, about 10 km east of Regensburg. Regensburg itself is roughly 1.5 hours by train from Munich and about an hour from Nuremberg.

• By boat: In season, excursion boats sail from Regensburg down the Danube to Donaustauf, the most scenic way to arrive.
• By bus: A regional bus runs from Regensburg to the Walhallastraße stop, followed by a 20-minute walk up 358 steps.
• By car: Take the A3 autobahn to the Regensburg-Ost exit. Paid parking is available near the top, a short walk from the hall.

A short history

Crown Prince Ludwig came up with the idea in 1807, when Germany was divided and occupied by Napoleon. The foundation stone was laid on October 18, 1830, the anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig, and Ludwig, by then king, opened the hall exactly 12 years later in 1842. The architect was Leo von Klenze, who also shaped much of Munich. The temple alone is about 67 m long; with its huge base, the whole complex is about 125 m long and 55 m high.

The hall opened with 96 busts. New ones have been added since 1962, chosen by the Bavarian government on the recommendation of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. Recent additions include the anti-Nazi resistance fighter Sophie Scholl (2003), the poet Heinrich Heine (2010), the artist Käthe Kollwitz (2019) and the physicist Max Planck (2022).

What to see

• The Hall of Fame: red marble walls, a gilded coffered ceiling and rows of white busts, divided by six goddesses of victory by sculptor Christian Daniel Rauch.
• The colonnade: walk all the way around the temple between massive columns.
• The view: sweeping views over the Danube valley toward the Bavarian Forest.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, the Walhalla is open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April to October, and 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. from November to March. It is closed January 1, Shrove Tuesday and December 24, 25 and 31. Admission is €5 (reduced €4), and under-18s enter free. A combination ticket with the Liberation Hall in Kelheim and Prunn Castle costs €13. A free app offers information in English.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes. The building is spectacular, the interior is a quiet who's who of German history, and the view alone justifies the trip. Allow about an hour on site, or half a day with a boat ride from Regensburg. In winter, note the midday closure from noon to 1 p.m.

Nearby

• Regensburg Old Town and Cathedral: a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Liberation Hall in Kelheim: Ludwig I's second great national monument.
• Weltenburg Abbey: a Baroque monastery with a famous brewery on the Danube Gorge.