Open Access

Undoubtedly, the episode referring to the ,Minnegrotteʼ contains the most different interpretative approaches from the entire Tristan narrative. It is nevertheless possible that many motives and methods of procedure specific to various traditions (antique and Christian, in particular) merge into one unity, in order to legitimize the extramarital relationship between Tristan and Isolde in a secluded space which subordinates itself to a completely different view of the world. When contemplating the parallelization to the sacred love, Gottfried implies that the lovers find themselves in a place, which serves them as shelter, and within this place only the harmony generated by love may prevail. This creates an alternative reality in the Minnegrotte, where the transition between Marke’s court and the ,Lustortʼ can be observed. Providing a detailed description of the latter (with the main focus on the food miracle and the autobiographical excursus), the author has succeeded in bringing together the conceptual topological features of the locus amoenus, the ,love cathedralʼ, and the paradisus, in order to include the real ,minneʼ in the memoria.