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More information about the historyFor hundreds of years, the Siebengebirge has been the inspiration behind myths, legends and fairy tales, which also play a part in deciphering its name. The hypothesis that the Siebengebirge’s “big seven” – Ölberg, Löwenburg, Lohrberg, Nonnenstromberg, Petersberg, Wolkenburg and Drachenfels – are the seven hills that Snow White hid behind cannot be substantiated. One theory is that the name is derived from the German word “Siefen” - which means V-shaped valley - and refers to deeply cut vales between hills. But it probably comes from the German number “sieben” [seven] which often means the same as “numerous” and which appears in various guises in folklore, such as with the “seven dwarfs” and the tale of the “seven-league boots” etc. In the case of the Siebengebirge, seven peaks can be seen when viewed from the north. One legend which is frequently told in connection with the creation of the Siebengebirge is the legend of the seven giants.
Image: View of the Siebengebirge, 1853 (idealised view from the west)
Image: Handwritten Nibelungenlied, around 1230
The Nibelungenlied is the most important German medieval heroic epic and it originated near the end of the 12th century. In the first part, we meet Siegfried of Xanten who became a hero by slaying a dragon. Since then many towns and locations - such as the Drachenfels - have claimed to be the scene of Siegfried’s battle with the dragon. Despite the absurdity of these kinds of attempts to find a real-life setting for a fanciful legend, it did still play a major part in the fame and popularity of the Drachenfels.
Image: European wildcat
The Siebengebirge has more than just hills and V-shaped valleys to offer – it also boasts large, continuous deciduous and mixed forests. Glades, meadows, thick undergrowth and a large amount of dead wood make the landscape the chosen habitat for numerous species of animals and plants. Today, the European wildcat once again feels at home here – a species which had disappeared from the Siebengebirge for many years.
Image: Postcard, Adenauer’s house, 1959
Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, lived away from the political comings and goings in the large house on the Rhöndorf hillside from 1937 to his death in the year 1967. Here, he lived with his wife Auguste and his sons and daughters and here, he received statesmen such as Charles de Gaulle. The house mirrored the interior design style of the upper middle classes; numerous roses – Adenauer’s favourite flower – still bloom in the garden.
Practical informationThe Nibelungenhalle on the Drachenfels provides insight into the legendary world of the Nibelungen and dragon mythology.
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Visit Adenauer’s home, the memorial site and the museum in Rhöndorf.
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Find out more about the history of the Siebengebirge at the Siebengebirgsmuseum Königswinter, Kellerstrasse 16:
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