Regensburg
The Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof has an almost intact medieval city center with many romanesque and gothic buildings. Regensburg was an important trading centre along the Danube. It was also home of the assemblies of the Holy Roman Empire in the High Middle Ages. Its roots lie in the Roman town of Castra Regina.
ICOMOS recommended deferral of Regensburg in 2006, but was overruled by the Committee which inscribed the site later that year.
Visit May 2010
Regensburg's nomination dossier seems to document every single structure in town. This will make great historical material in a few hundred years! ICOMOS however was not amused, and complained that it's not about the number of sites but about themes they represent.
I made good use of the lists of structures from all ages and plotted the most interesting sounding ones on a map of Regensburg. I visited the town on a day trip from Bamberg. A good place to start is the historical museum, which holds a large exhibition on the local Roman history. It shows how the Roman militairy camp developed into a town. All very well displayed, although signs are in German only. Entrance fee is 2,20 EUR.
I then checked out two of the most prominent tower-houses, something that I never expected to see here. Most of the buildings here look very new, they have been restored extensively in the 1990s. They all have signs telling their historical value. Some sites I couldn't link to the description in the nomination file however, for example I noticed no wood at all at "the oldest completely preserved wooden building in Germany" (Keplerstrasse 12).
Back on my way to the train station I had a quick look at the Monastery of St. Emmeram. It still has very old frescoes at its facade. In all I spent about 3.5 hours in town and I had to rush at the end to catch my train.
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery
Reviews
Assif Am-David (Israel):
I went to Regensburg and nearby Nuremberg at the same day. I must confess my impression that the latter completely overshadowed the former. Both are medievil cities but while Nuremberg was eraised during WWII and completely reconstructed afterwards Regensburg still preserves its original houses. Is this a reason enough for its inscription? Dresden is a good counter-example.
Well regardless of Nuremberg, I can say that Regensburg is a relatively dull town unlike many other coulorful medievil towns in Germany (or even in Bavaria). The only thing that truly impressed me there was the stained glass at the local cathedral. |
| Date posted: May 2009 |
Klaus Freisinger (Austria):
I agree with the other reviewers here - Regensburg is really a beautiful town with a fascinating history. The old town is very compact and wonderfully preserved, luckily having escaped any destruction during WW II. In the Middle Ages, many Imperial Diets (Reichstage) were held there, largely because of its strategic position on the Danube. From the end of the Thirty Years' War until the end of the Empire in 1806, the Permanent Imperial Diet had its seat in Regensburg's Town Hall. Now there is a really interesting museum there, with many original rooms.
There are also several beautiful religious buildings, especially the Cathedral of St. Peter and the Monastery of St. Emmeram, as well as the historic Stone Bridge leading across the Danube to the district of Stadtamhof, which used to be an independent city. The famous aristocratic family of Thurn and Taxis, which introduced the first postal service in Central Europe, also has its palace in Regensburg, and there are interesting guided tours. The only problem there, for people visiting Regensburg in December, is that you actually have to pay an entrance fee for the Christmas Market in the palace courtyard... |
| Date posted: December 2008 |
Alison (USA):
We lived in Regensburg, in Stadtamhof on the main street, for 4 years. It was an amazing town full of charm and character. Parts of the old Roman wall still exist and the Steinere Brucke is over 800 years old. You can take tours of the city...highly recommended. Christmas is a wonderful time to visit as there is a Christkindlmarkt in many of the squares. |
| Date posted: June 2008 |
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Beautiful city, Dom St Peter is one of the most beautiful cathedral in the world. Don´t forget to visit Alte Kapelle and Baumburger Turm. Only problem is huge number of cars and buses in narrow streets of Old Town and on Steinerne Brucke. |
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I visited Regensburg just one week before Pope Benedikt XVI. arrived in his 'hoe-town'. Although already beautifully renovated before, the city was even more brightened-up. A beautiful town absolutely worth visiting. I strongly recommend to have Bratwurst and some beers in the little pub next to the stonebridge |
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