Tannhäuser has established a very unique profile as an author of 13th century medieval German literature. Not only did he experiment with literary genres and test their limits; his poetry is also defined by complex self-referential patterns. This study on the one hand provides – after a close look on the state of research as well as theoretical approach – a profound interpretation of Tannhäusers uvre that focusses especially on self-referential structures and other kinds of literary references. On the other hand it offers a new edition of Tannhäusers texts that follows modern standards.