Nibelungen

		Esztergom Esztergom, the former capital of Hungary, lies on the Danube and the Slovakian border. About 30,000 people live in this northern Hungarian city. The first to settle here were the Celts. After the Romans, who founded the settlement Salvio Mansio, came the Slavs, who gave it the name Stregom (meaning guarding) because they guarded the crossing-point on the Danube from here. Later Esztergom became the seat of the ruler of the Magyars. Stephen I of Hungary was crowned here around 1000. During its varied history the city was also part of the Ottoman Empire. The main attractin in Esztergom is the classical basilica dating from 1820 - one of the largest churches in Europe. Etzel's castle in the Nibelungenlied was probably based on the Arpads' (ruling dynasty of Hungary from around 1000) palace at Esztergom. Here, Kriemhild lived with her second husband, Etzel king of the Huns and Ortlieb, her son from this marriage, after Siegfried's death. It was also here that the Nibelungen were killed after accepting Kriemhild's invitation and fighting a grim battle. More information on Esztergom

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Esztergom