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Walther von der Vogelweide and his Lajen heritage

Walther von der Vogelweide, the most important of the German-speaking minnesingers, has left a deep mark not only on literature, but also on Lajen. This site tells you all about Walther and the trail that traces his footsteps.

Sît ir willekomen [Welcome]
Thus would Walther von der Vogelweide have probably received us, bidding us “willekomen” to his home of Lajen, which he left in the late 12th century in order to conquer the entire German-speaking world with his songs and poems. Walther was the star minnesinger, the one who knew how to entertain the ladies and gentlemen at court – up to and including numerous crowned heads. As a consummate professional, he knew exactly what his audience wanted to hear, whether it was poems about noble ladies and (not so noble) girls, or works with a more solid content: crown, church, crusades.


A tour around the life of Walther: the 8 stations of the Walther von der Vogelweide way


The person of Walther von der Vogelweide was as complex as his repertoire was versatile. A closer inspection of “The Nightingale” and its time, or a glance at Walther’s development and existence, are therefore worthwhile: a look at himself, his background, his education and his “job”, at Minnesang and political propaganda, at his heritage and its political connotations. All of this can be seen at the stations along the circular trail dedicated to Walther von der Vogelweide, following the traces that Walther left us in his enormous output, allowing us to place ourselves in the position of a controversial personality and a fascinating era. The trail offers views, reviews and overviews, both deep into Walther von der Vogelweide and far beyond him too.

© / imprint
Owner:
Tourist Association Lajen/Laion
Walther von der Vogelweide 30/b
I-39040 Lajen/Laion – Südtirol/Alto Adige

Idea & Concept: www.gruppegut.it
Text: J. Christian Rainer
Academical supervision: Dr. Georg Mühlberger
Music: © Capella Antiqua Bambergensis,
www.capella-antiqua.de, all rights at
CAB-Records.
Recording studio: www.tonstube.it
Graphics & Design: www.gruppegut.it
Land-Art: P. S. Feichter
Photos: P. S. Feichter, Gruppe Gut