Drei Gaugöttinnen

The book invites listeners on a scholarly trek through the German countryside, where three beloved saints—Walburg, Verena and Gertrud—emerge not only as holy figures but as echoes of ancient regional goddesses. Drawing on the author’s own field notes from hunting trips, monastery visits and local folklore, it weaves together oral memory and scarce written sources to suggest that these women once embodied the protective spirit of their “Gau,” long before ecclesiastical borders were drawn.

Beyond the mythic layer, the work explores how these female deities reflected the Germanic ideal of a household ruled by a wise woman, overseeing marriage, labor and peace. It shows how the onslaught of war and later Christian conversion reshaped these goddesses into saints, preserving fragments of their original virtues while masking their older roles. The narrative balances careful historical analysis with vivid descriptions of the valleys and river basins that kept the old cult alive.

Through clear, engaging prose, listeners gain a fresh perspective on how regional identity, gender, and religion intertwined in early German lands, offering a thoughtful glimpse into a world where myth and faith still whisper across the hills.