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Donaueschingen

Donaueschingen Palace

The source of the Danube is considered the birthplace of the residence town of Donaueschingen, and the residence palace was intentionally built in close proximity to the source. Together with the picturesque park and other historic buildings, it forms an impressive architectural ensemble.

A Historical Development

The creation of the palace is closely tied to the elevation of Donaueschingen to the princely residence city of Fürstenberg. In 1723, Prince Joseph Wilhelm Ernst raised Donaueschingen to the status of a residence city. With the construction of the new palace and the town church, which is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, he emphasized the close connection between the residence and the Danube source.

The Church of
St. John

The town church of Donaueschingen is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and is located directly above the Danube source, next to the residence palace. Built from 1724 to 1747 based on a design by the Prague architect Franz Maximilian Kaňka, the two towers have since shaped the townscape of Donaueschingen and are considered landmarks of the city.

Donaueschingen
Palace Park

The Donaueschingen Palace Park, a historic landscape park, was created in the 18th and 19th centuries from a marshland area and is now open to the public. The park is notable for its abundance of water, historical buildings, and monuments, including the oldest Lessing monument in Germany.

The Danube Source

The source of the Danube springs next to the palace in Donaueschingen. Originally, it flowed openly past the palace, but today it flows underground to the Brigach. The current source structure was built in 1875, and the Danube Temple, a gift from Emperor Wilhelm II, has stood here since 1910.
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