Germany will be celebrating Danube Day at both ends of the German Danube. Events will take place near the source of the Danube in the SW of the country and also close to where the river leaves German soil for Austria in the SE.

Deggendorf: Opening of the ‘Ship Master’s House’ Environmental Education Centre (20 June 2008)

Deggendorf will host the main celebration, calling on the Danube’s past and future in an event that will connect today’s Danube users with those who worked on the river over 400 years ago. On the 20th June (3.00pm), State Minister, Dr. Otmar Bernhard, will officially open the newly restored ‘Ship Master’s House.’ Built in 1590, it now houses an exciting new venue for environmental education. Focussing on the Danube, water and environmental issues, the new centre will help engage people in the sustainable use of their river. Visitors will have the chance to tour the new building, enjoy local food and dance along to the big band sounds of the Comenius-Gymnasium of Deggendorf. Contact: vinzenz.ritter [at] wwa-deg [dot] bayern [dot] de (Vinzenz Ritter) of the State Office for Water Management in Deggendorf for more information.

Danube Art Master schools competition (ongoing until 29 June 2008)

The event will also see the culmination of the search to find Germany’s young Danube Art Master for 2008. Pupils from 14 secondary schools from Straubing to Passau have been invited to join the international Danube competition. Young artists are challenged to let their creativity run wild and create a piece of art inspired by their river on the theme of “Together for Clean Water.” The winning Art Master will be crowned by Dr Bernhard and their work displayed, along with others, at the new centre. To join in the competition and win some great prizes, contact: vinzenz.ritter [at] wwa-deg [dot] bayern [dot] de (Vinzenz Ritter).

Donaueschingen-Wolterdingen to Tuttlingen: Danube Information Day (29 June 2008)

Danube Day in SW Germany will see a number of events along the river from Donaueschingen-Wolterdingen to Tuttlingen. The Baden-Württemberg Water Management Administration will host a Danube information day with presentations on the new flood protection dam; the local beaver population; the Water Framework Directive and the Integrated Danube Programme (IDP). The afternoon will see participants take to their bikes for a guided tour from Wolterdingen via Donaueschingen to Tuttlingen. During the tour, there will be opportunities to learn more about river restoration projects; the hydrology, ecology and geology of the region; flood prevention and protection; measures to create fish route-ways and other ways to re-establish the ecological balance of the river. Along with a mobile ‘Green Classroom’ and schools art competition, there will be plenty to stimulate, engage and connect everyone with their Danube.

Greet the Danube ship blast (29 June 2008; 14:00)

The sound of ship horns will reverberate across the Danube Basin at 14:00 on Danube Day, as Danube workers pay a very special tribute to their river - a river that provides them with food, water, power, recreation and, crucially, their livelihoods. The annual Greet the Danube horn blast, organised by the Global Water Partnership (GWP), will see ships along the Danube from Germany to Ukraine simultaneously sound their horns in a salute to the rivers.

Danube Photo competition (until 15 September 2008)

Enter the basin-wide Danube Photographic Competition, organised by the International Friends of Nature, and your work could be exhibited at the UN Headquarters in Vienna and toured across the Danube countries.

Further information

Download the fact sheet below for more details about the events and organisers.
Danube Day in Germany fact sheet 53.45 KB

For the latest news, please contact:

Deggendorf event and Danube Art Master competition:
Vinzenz Ritter, State Office for Water Management, Deggendorf. Tel: + 49 171 6710030; email: vinzenz.ritter [at] wwa-deg [dot] bayern [dot] de. See also: www.wwa-deg.bayern.de

Donaueschingen-Wolterdingen event:
Marlene Reichegger or Oliver Stenzel of the Freiburg District Administration (Tel: +49 771 8966300; email: marlene.reichegger [at] rpf [dot] bwl [dot] de or email: oliver.stenzel [at] rpf [dot] bwl [dot] de

National Danube Day Coordinators:
Sylva Orlamuende, Bavarian Ministry for Environment, Health and Consumer Protection. Tel: +49 89 92 144358; email: sylva.orlamuende [at] stmugv [dot] bayern [dot] de

Knut Beyer, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Tel: +49 228 305 2536; fax: +49 228 305 3334 or email: Knut.Beyer [at] bmu [dot] bund [dot] de

Related links

State Office for Water Management, Deggendorf: www.wwa-deg.bayern.de
Freiburg District Administration: www.rp-freiburg.de
City of Donaueschingen: www.donaueschingen.de