Regensburg

We woke this morning in what has often been described as “the most northern of Italian cities” - Regensburg. It bagan as a humble Roman garrison camp in 178AD  at the most northerly point of the Danube - one of the northern  boundaries of the Roman Empire. It was later convert to Christianity in the 7th century, making it a centre for religious life in the Middle Ages. Later came the Bavarian Dukes who assisted with Regensburg becoming an important trading centre. The medieval Old Town of  Regensburg was left untouched from bombing during WWII. This UNESCO listed town centre offers a glimpse of medieval life of a central European trading town. Today it is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Germany. 

Beautiful Regensburg

We entered the city through the East Gate which is still part of the medieval wall once surrounding the city. After navigating major construction works we arrived at the very significant Dom, St Peter’s Cathedral, which towers over the town, and is one of Germany's great Gothic Cathedrals. This took over 250 years to build - commencing around 1273 after the old cathedral burnt to the ground. 

The old city centre, along with the Rathaus, is a pedestrians paradise. We wandered through the narrow cobblestones streets and alleys. It was mentioned that there are about 160,000 people living in Regensburg, 32,000 of these are students! From the 1960s the town sort the development of the town as a major student destination. It has been a student lead economic recovery for the city. The old derelict inner city buildings, once inhabited by pigeons, mice and stray cats, were revamped as student accommodation and thus preserving these precious old buildings for posterity. It kept the corporates out of the old town and  promotes the inner city as a living hub. 

Student accommodation surrounding a delightful beer garden. 

The old town centre featuring the old Imperial Diet (Government), the Salt Barn (Bridge Tower), the Theatre and the Haidplatz. 

Some colourful curiosities!

We then wandered dine to the Danube to the old bridge. This 12th  century Steinerne Bruucke (bridge) is an outstanding example of medieval engineering - over 300m long it still remains in place today. For centuries it remained the only solid crossing point on the Danube. 

The bottom left photo is the Historische Wurstküche, the oldest sausage kitchen in Germany. 

The storm clouds were starting to form again across the sky so we thought it would be a sensible option to hear back to the van - and Maddie, we had completed over 11,700 steps!