October 9 - Regensburg

Regensburg, is a city located along the banks of the Danube, where we will be starting our cruise. It boasts a history that stretches back to Roman times. Originally known as Castra Regina, the city was founded in 179 CE as a Roman military fortification. Its strategic location at the northernmost point of the Danube made it a crucial frontier outpost of the Roman Empire.

Throughout the Middle Ages, Regensburg flourished as a major centre of trade and culture. By the 12th and 13th centuries, it had become one of the most prosperous and influential cities in southern Germany. It has a well-preserved medieval Old Town protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Gate from Danube River to town center

Regensburg’s prominence continued into the Renaissance and Baroque periods when it became a vital meeting place for the Imperial Diet—the main body of the Holy Roman Empire. The city’s diverse legacy is reflected in its religious history. Regensburg was home to one of Germany’s oldest Jewish communities as well as churches like St. Peter’s Cathedral.

In the modern era, Regensburg managed to escape major destruction during the Second World War, allowing much of its historic architecture to survive intact.

The most important industry in Regensburg is the automotive sector, with BMW being the largest employer in the city. BMW’s Regensburg plant employs over 9,000 people and plays a significant role in vehicle production, manufacturing. Other significant industries include optical semiconductors and software and electronics for mobility services.

In the morning, we went on a walking tour of the old town with a local guide. She was personable and extremely knowledgeable. A lot of the tour was centered around the grand homes of the merchant class and how they shaped the history of Regensburg. But it was side stories that made the tour interesting.

She brought us along the waterfront to the Steinerne Brücke or the Stone Bridge. Built between 1135 and 1146, it’s one of the oldest surviving stone bridges in Europe. With its 16 arches it spans the Danube River and was a major medieval trade route connecting northern and southern Europe.

Old stone bridge

She showed us the flood warning system that is at the foot of the bridge. It is a series of sensors embedded in the plaza that will automatically close walkways and roads when they are under water.

In that plaza there is also the oldest sausage “kitchen” in the world. The historic Wurstkuchl has stood right next to the Stone Bridge, for over 500 years. This is where Regensburg's stonemasons and dockworkers enjoyed their refreshments as early as the Middle Ages and it is still active today.

Wurstkuchl 

Next, we went to remains of a Roman fortress wall which was built in 179 AD by Marcus Aurelius. The wall has been incorporated into many of todays existing structures in the area. We passed by the home of the inventor of the musical metronome. Johann Maelzel, a German inventor also designed ear trumpets for Beethoven.

Remains of Roman fortress

While we wandered the streets, our guide told us about the still existing prejudices against eastern Germans by those who lived in West German.

At the city hall we were witness to a wedding about to take place. Next to the city hall is a building that was used as the meeting place for the Imperial Diet. Originally it was designed as a grand ball room.

To finish the tour, we went to a gasthaus near St. Peter’s cathedral, where we had a beer. We got to talk our guide over our drinks and got some more insights into German culture.

St. Peter's Cathedral

Overall, a fine way to spend the morning.

In the early evening we started down the Danube and passed Walhalla which is a beautiful neoclassical monument perched above the Danube River. Modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, it was commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria in the early 19th century to honor distinguished figures in German history.