It tells the story of Dietrich von Bern and his heroes. The saga begins with an account of Dietrich's ancestors and youth. Then it tells how the heroes Hildebrand, Witig and Heime reach Dietrich's court at Bern. Competition is hot: both Heime and Witig challenge Dietrich to single combat. Heime loses, but Witig wins. In a fit of sulking Dietrich goes off to kill a dragon and find two more heroes. King Arthur appears in passing as the father of Princess Hilde, whose hand in marriage is won by the Prince Herthgegn.