Liberation Hall

Commissioned by King Ludwig I, this memorial to victorious battles against Napoleon in the Wars of Liberation from 1813-1815 was begun by Friedrich Gärtner, who based his design on central ancient and Christian architectural concepts, and completed by Leo von Klenze in 1863 after modifications were made to the plans.

Befreiungshalle Kelheim

The buttresses on the outer façade are crowned by 18 monumental statues serving as allegories of the various Germanic tribes. The number 18 also symbolizes the date of the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig (on 18 October 1813), in which Napoleon’s troops suffered a crushing defeat by the Coalition. The 45-meters-high dome hall is subdivided into alcoves, arcades and a gallery and finished with a coffered ceiling. Thirty-four monumental goddesses of victory made by Ludwig Schwanthaler in white “Carrara marble” are holding hands for a ceremonious round dance. The external gallery offers visitors an exceptional view above the surrounding valley of Altmühl and Danube.

With the portable Multimedia-Guides you can experience the Liberation Hall interactively with pictures, music and animations. Audioguides will give you a broader understanding of art, culture and history around the memorial on top of the Michelsberg.

The best way to surmount the uphill path to Liberation Hall is by taking a ride on the convenient "Ludwigsbahn" shuttle. This little blue-and-white "train" begins its route at the Danube shipping pier. It not only offers a comfortable ride up the mountain and a spectacular view of the city, but also provides you with lots of interesting facts along the way.


Befreiungshalle in Kelheim von Fotograf Anton Mirwald