From the Walhalla Memorial, the view opens across the Danube Valley in Germany, with the river and surrounding Bavarian landscape stretching far into the distance.
This fantastic view over the Danube deserves to be the culmination of this three-piece series on the Walhalla Memorial. It is the kind of place where history and landscape meet in a way that is difficult to describe. Yet, I will try!
An unforgettable view over the Danube
Standing on the marble terrace, the Danube River view extends below, framed by layers of green fields, clusters of trees and even distant villages in the Bavarian horizon. The view from the Walhalla Memorial feels expansive, like a well-deserved breath of fresh air after climbing the stairs.
The Danube River view becomes the center of attention, but in a rather ceremonial way. Under certain light the river can reflect the clouds like a mirror, and it feels like the last touch to the already stunning Walhalla temple and the surrounding scenery.
At the same time, the columns of the temple subtly interrupt the view from the Walhalla Memorial, breaking it into segments, and this is part of what makes the Walhalla viewpoint so stunning.
Please consider that exploring the Walhalla Memorial and the Walhalla viewpoint is free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to step inside the Walhalla Interior and admire hundreds of marble busts, which I recommend if you’re into history.
Capturing the passage of time
I find these columns particularly striking because on the one hand, they have the delicacy of classical Greek temple columns, but on the other hand, time has shaped them in a way that they look almost brutal. I find the contrast very interesting, and it kind of fits the dark, menacing sky we had that day.
I think you can also use any weather to your advantage in this type of place. If it’s sunset, use the golden light. If it’s stormy, the sky and the columns really create a cinematic effect. And if it’s a sunny day, the green around it comes to life and makes the monument pop.
Also, you may notice this white line on the ground. It was installed to prevent people from getting too close to the edge and potentially falling. In all kinds of languages, it’s written “Do not cross”. Unfortunately, someone did cross.
I don’t know what the place looks like today or if the view has been completely ruined by setting up fences everywhere. I hope they did not, as this really would dishonor the view from the Walhalla Memorial, in my opinion.
