Donaustauf

Donaustauf
Municipality
Panorama view of Donaustauf from the Walhalla temple
Coat of arms
Location of Donaustauf within Regensburg district
Donaustauf Donaustauf
Coordinates: 49°01′44″N 12°12′29″E
Country	Germany
State	Bavaria
Admin. region	Oberpfalz
District	Regensburg
Municipal assoc.	Donaustauf
Government
• Mayor (2020–26)	Jürgen Sommer (SPD)
Area
• Total	9.72 km2 (3.75 sq mi)
Elevation	358 m (1,175 ft)
Population  (2023-12-31)
• Total	4,589
• Density	470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	93093
Dialling codes	09403
Vehicle registration	R
Website	www.donaustauf.de

Walhalla with the village of Donaustauf (around 1850)

Donaustauf is a market town in Bavaria, 5 km (3 mi) east of Regensburg at the foothills of the Bavarian Forest. The ruins of a medieval castle, presumably erected between 914 and 930, tower above the small town. Situated nearby on a hill rising from the Danube is the imposing Teutonic temple of fame, Walhalla, a costly reproduction of the Parthenon in Athens. The Walhalla was commissioned by Ludwig I, King of Bavaria, and inaugurated on 18 October 1842.

Donaustauf had been a fief in the Duchy of Bavaria, but in 1710 it was transferred to Bishopric of Regensburg. In 1803 it joined the newly formed Principality of Regensburg, but just 7 years later, at the Treaty of Paris it was returned to Bavaria, which, in turn, endowed it to the princes of Thurn and Taxis. In 1899, the princely house was elevated to a dukedom, receiving the title of Duke of Wörth and Donaustauf.

Maximilian Karl, Prince of Thurn and Taxis and his family, who liked the romantic scenery of Donaustauf, moved to the newly constructed Donaustauf palace in 1843, which, however, was completely destroyed during a blaze on 4 March 1880.