Source of the Danube (and Breg) Monument, near St. Martin's Chapel, 6 kilometres northwest of Furtwangen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, Europe

Details

Accessibility

Brief description

https://www.rivieratravel.co.uk/blog/map-the-danube-black-forest-black-sea

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_of_the_Danube

"The Danube is conventionally taken to be formed by the confluence of the two streams Brigach and Breg just east of Donaueschingen. The source of the Donaubach, which flows into the Danube, in the park of Donaueschingen Palace is often referred to as the source of the Danube (Donauquelle). Hydrologically, the source of the Danube is the source of the Breg as the larger of the two formative streams (with its spring at a higher altitude and - at the confluence - not only being 5 km longer but also having a higher amount of water discharge) which rises near Furtwangen.

There was an active rivalry between the municipalities of Furtwangen and Donaueschingen for the claim of being home to the "official" source of the Danube since the 1950s, sometimes with the involvement of the government of the state of Baden-Württemberg. Thus, in 1981 the state government granted Donaueschingen the request that the source in Furtwangen should no longer be labelled Donauquelle in official maps.[1] 

The river Danube properly begins with the confluence of the two headwater streams Brigach and Breg in the region of Donaueschingen. The river flows on from there into the delta of the Black Sea, after 2811 km.

In 1949 Franz Burgert from Furtwangen argued for the spring near St. Martin's Church being the origin of the Breg, instead of the spring near Briglirain. This was also underpinned in the 1950s by the investigations of geologist Irma Öhrlein, which were later meticulously continued by Ludwig Öhrlein. The question of what is the spring of the Danube also interested the oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, who in 1987 filmed a documentary about the Danube around St. Martin's Church.

For centuries, the two cities Furtwangen and Donaueschingen competed for an official status which declares their own source as the official source of the Danube. The city Furtwangen is located along the upper river Breg, while the city Donaueschingen is located at the symbolic source of the Danube. At times, the issue even involves the government of Baden-Württemberg. After the city council Donaueschingen intervened in 1981, for example, the Ministry of the Interior in Stuttgart announced that "the source of the Breg is not anymore displayed as the source of the Danube on ministerial maps. The land surveying office was instructed to act accordingly." However, the former minister for agriculture and forestry confirmed in a document addressed to Prof. Öhrlein in 1982: "Getting back to the issue regarding the source of the Danube, I can once again confirm that the so-called source of the Danube in Donaueschingen is certainly not the real source of the river Danube, if analysed with geographical and hydrological criteria. The river Breg can rightly be called the main stream of the Danube.""

Address

St. Martinskapelle

Neuweg 10

78120 Furtwangen im Schwarzwald

Germany

+ Source of the Breg

Also see: Brigach-und-Breg-Zusammenfluss

Brigachweg

78166 Donaueschingen

Germany

+ Source of the Danube

Fürstenbergstraße

78166 Donaueschingen

Germany

Email

Phone

Website

https://www.hochschwarzwald.de/en/attractions/source-of-the-danube-of-the-breg-bd77a0482c

https://www.outdooractive.com/en/poi/the-black-forest/source-of-the-danube-of-the-breg-/802072111/

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g651773-d6777934-Reviews-Breg_Donau_Quelle-Furtwangen_Baden_Wurttemberg.html

Directions

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g651773-d6777934-Reviews-Breg_Donau_Quelle-Furtwangen_Baden_Wurttemberg.html

Opening Times

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

Transport

Amenities