After spending a period in Venusberg (Venus Mountain) in profane love with the goddess Venus, the Minnesinger and poet Tannhäuser feels satisfied and longs for freedom. Before leaving the caverns, Tannhäuser is cursed by Venus and returns to his homeland where he is welcomed by five minstrels. His friend Wolfram tells that the Landgrave’s niece Elisabeth misses him and lost her interest in music. He meets Elisabeth, and her uncle, who raised her like a daughter, decides to celebrate his return with a festival with a song contest. When the Landgrave tells that the theme is the nature of love, Wolfram and the other minstrels sing about the sacred love. However Tannhäuser mocks them and tells that only who had been in Venusberg is capable to tell the real nature of love. Tannhäuser is loathed and the men want to kill him, however Elisabeth protects Tannhäuser and saves him. He promises to seek atonement in Rome and joins a group of pilgrims while Elisabeth prays for him. When the pilgrims return, Elisabeth and Wolfram seek Tannhäuser out but does not find him. Later Wolfram sees Tannhäuser that has returned alone and he tells that he is searching for Venusberg again since he has not found absolution and salvation in Rome. He summons Venus and when she finally appears, Wolfram only says the name Elisabeth. Tannhäuser stops and Wolfram explains that Elisabeth died praying for him and now she would ask for his salvation directly to the Lord. Soon Tannhäuser discovers that he had found redemption through Elisabeth’s love and he dies. While the pilgrims sing about the miracle that has happened, his soul flies to heaven.