Summary
Individuals captivated by medieval history will find themselves in an ideal setting in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Regensburg, where 1,500 registered monuments have endured through the ages. During the period of the Holy Roman Empire, Regensburg was the venue for the Imperial Diet, allowing visitors to stand in the very space where some of Europe’s most influential leaders congregated.
Prominent families vied to construct the tallest homes within the city, resulting in a picturesque skyline characterized by Romantic towers. This city, which also served as a religious center, boasts an impressive number of churches that may be overwhelming to explore in a single visit.
Regensburg harmoniously balances its profound cultural heritage with a notable concentration of bars, outpacing any other city in Germany, while offering a relaxed, almost Mediterranean atmosphere in its public squares.
Here are the top attractions in Regensburg:
1. St Peter’s Cathedral
Regarded as a prime example of southern German Gothic architecture, Regensburg Cathedral is a monument that can engage visitors for hours.
This impeccably preserved structure showcases an abundance of intricacies, from the detailed statuary and ornamentation on the main portal, façade, and towers, to intriguing architectural features such as the Eselsturm, a remnant of the Romanesque tower from the original cathedral located on the northern side.
Additionally, the cloister, which predates the current structure, is notably disassociated from the existing cathedral.
Within the expansive nave and choir, visitors can admire one of the most comprehensive collections of medieval stained glass found in any church within the German-speaking domain. Notable pieces include the resplendent high altar dated to the 17th and 18th centuries and the elaborate tomb of Margareta Tucherin, crafted by the early Renaissance artist Peter Vischer the Elder.
2. Haidplatz
A triangular square situated in the heart of the old town, Haidplatz historically hosted jousting tournaments during the medieval era.
At the forefront is the imposing Goldenes Kreuz (Golden Cross), a patrician house with origins tracing back to the 13th century.
This significant site has welcomed numerous notable figures, including Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who resided here on three occasions during the 1530s and 40s.
Also noteworthy is the Neue Waag, formerly a burgher residence that was acquired by the city in the 15th century and transformed into the town’s weighing house.
The arcades located on the lower level, now enclosed with glass, were constructed in 1575. Centrally positioned is the Justitiabrunnen (Justice Fountain) from 1656, initially a drinking source that was supplied by a conduit from the village of Dechbetten, located to the west of the city.
3. Alte Kapelle
Formally known as the Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady, this collegiate church possesses a remarkable history.
It is recognized as the oldest Catholic church in Bavaria, originally founded in the 800s by Ludwig the German, the grandson of Charlemagne.
The current edifice was constructed by Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor, at the beginning of the 11th century.
Approximately 400 years later, the Alte Kapelle saw an expansion with the addition of a High Gothic choir, and in the 1700s, extensive renovations were undertaken by Anton Landes, a notable figure of the Wesobrunner School, enhancing it into one of Germany’s most lavish Rococo churches.
The intricacy of the gilded stuccowork and the magnificence of the frescoes that embellish the walls and ceiling of the nave and choir are truly captivating.
4. Altes Rathaus
The vibrant yellow Altes Rathaus, or old town hall, traces its roots back to the 1200s and forms part of a complex that includes the Baroque new town hall.
This structure is not only aesthetically pleasing but is steeped in history, as it served as the venue for the Holy Roman Imperial Diet (assemblies) from 1594 to 1806. This legacy is elaborated in the museum located within its historic chambers.
The Diet convened in the 14th-century Imperial Chamber (Reichsaal), which has seen little alteration since the Renaissance and boasts a beautiful wooden ceiling along with 16th-century decorations on its walls, as well as the Kaiserthron, the Emperor’s throne.
This is just one of several compelling rooms to explore, which include dungeons featuring an interrogation room equipped with genuine torture devices.
5. Thurn und Taxis Palace
Since 1812, the Princely House of Thurn und Taxis transformed several buildings of the St Emmeram Monastery into an extravagant palace, a family that achieved wealth through the postal business.
This estate was gifted to the family as compensation for losing their monopoly over the Bavarian postal system.
The residence constructed here is celebrated as one of Germany’s exemplary representations of Historicist architecture, seamlessly integrated with genuine Medieval elements such as the abbey’s Romanesque and Gothic cloister.
As you tour the palace, you will encounter a series of opulently decorated rooms, including the grand Neo-Rococo ballroom, the Throne Room, and the monastery’s historic library featuring an 18th-century ceiling fresco.
The Royal Treasury is filled with priceless porcelain, ceremonial weaponry, and exquisite furniture.
6. St Emmeram’s Basilica
The complex’s Benedictine abbey evolved into a parish church, contributing to Regensburg’s long list of significant religious sites.
The design of the 11th-century Romanesque church draws on an even older structure dating back to the 700s.
Noteworthy is the north portal, which was intricately sculpted in 1052 and features a relief depicting Christ alongside Saint Emmeram and Saint Denis.
Inside, visitors can appreciate a captivating fusion of Romanesque architecture from the 1000s along with later Renaissance and Baroque enhancements.
A stunning accent is the painted wooden ceiling in the western transept, which narrates the story of Benedict of Nursia.
7. Old Stone Bridge
A remarkable feat of medieval engineering, the 12th-century pedestrian bridge spanning the Danube measures over 300 meters, famously serving as a prototype for other notable medieval bridges in cities such as Prague and Avignon.
This structure replaced Charlemagne’s older wooden bridge, remaining the city’s sole crossing until the 1930s.
At its highest point stands a statue known as the Bruckmandl, erected in the mid-1500s, depicting a half-naked man shielding his eyes.
Beneath it, an inscription reads “Schuck, wie heiß,” (how hot!) believed to refer to the particularly warm summer of 1135, when the bridge’s construction commenced.
Low water levels on the Danube facilitated a quicker building process.
8. Scots’ Monastery
Located on the western edge of the old town, this former Benedictine Abbey has a compelling narrative.
Established in the 1000s by Irish missionaries, the Scots Monastery was sustained by Irish and subsequently Scottish monks until the 19th century.
A significant portion of what visitors see dates from a major Romanesque renovation in the 12th century, which highlights the abbey’s most intriguing feature.
The northern Schottenportal (Scots’ Portal) occupies one-third of the northern façade.
The jambs, tympanum, and flanking arches display a wealth of statuary and ornamental sculptures.
The tympanum above the doorway reveals an image of Christ, while a frieze exhibits another portrayal of Jesus flanked by the 12 Apostles.
Accompanying these are more enigmatic depictions of sirens, eagles, crocodiles, and a dragon consuming a lion.
9. Regensburg Museum of History
The museum, located within a medieval Minorite monastery, provides an insightful exploration of Regensburg’s cultural history, extending from the Stone Age to the 1800s.
The building itself is an architectural delight, particularly the Gothic cloister, featuring a well and liturgical statues.
The exhibition is rich with artifacts spanning all eras, commencing with prehistory and Roman times showcased on the ground floor, which includes inscribed stones, ceramics, jewelry, a Bronze Age clay object symbolizing a loaf of bread, and the skull of a decapitated woman from the 200s.
The first floor presents medieval and early modern life in the city, featuring maps, models, furniture, reverse glass painting, textiles, and votive panels.
On the second floor, visitors discover Renaissance liturgical art by the Danube School and artists like Albrecht Altdorfer, along with art and crafts specifically related to Regensburg.
10. Porta Praetoria
There exists a significant remnant of Roman history on Unter den Schwibbögen, a street positioned one block from the Danube and parallel to the river.
Constructed from rough-hewn stone blocks, the Porta Praetoria served as the gateway for the northern wall of the Castra Regina, the Roman encampment that would evolve into Regensburg.
This gate dates back to the 2nd century and occupies a strategically vital location, facing the convergence point of the River Regen with the Danube.
Porta Praetoria was incorporated into later constructions, and it wasn’t until 1885 that its considerable historical significance was recognized.
11. Goliathhaus
Situated on Goliathstraße, the striking Medieval patrician house, dating back to 1260, was constructed on what once was the southern wall of the Roman camp.
The primary attraction is the monumental mural depicting David and Goliath, created in 1573 by the Salzburg artist Melchior Bocksberger.
Interestingly, the name of the building does not originate from the mural, but rather from the Goliards, a group of itinerant clergy known for their satirical poetry during the Middle Ages, who once operated an inn in this area of the city.
The upper floor now encompasses a restaurant named David, offering scenic views of Regensburg’s rooftops.
12. Patrician Towers
During medieval times, the most effective means for noble families in Regensburg to showcase their wealth and power was through the construction of towers.
This competition led to the establishment of numerous towering structures, which remain a defining feature of the skyline today.
Among the notable examples are the Goliathhaus and the Goldenes Kreuz.
However, the tallest structure belongs to the Goldener Turm on Wahlenstraße, dating back to 1260, standing at 50 meters and currently utilized as student accommodations for the university.
13. Neupfarrplatz
Neupfarrplatz is situated precisely where the Roman Castra Regina once stood, along with the site of the historic Jewish quarter of Regensburg.
This city was one of the earliest in Germany to host a Jewish community, becoming significant in Europe by the 1100s and 1200s.
However, following the expulsion of Jews from the city in 1519, the quarter was demolished and replaced with this square.
Excavations conducted in the 1990s unveiled much regarding this lost history.
Today, a monument in the square commemorates the location where the old synagogue once existed.
The Document Neupfarrplatz offers an underground experience showcasing the bomb shelters from the Second World War, as well as the cellar and tunnel systems beneath the former Jewish quarter.
Visitors can view a collection of artifacts uncovered during the excavations, including a treasure of 624 guilders buried around 1388.
14. Museum of Danube Shipping
For a refreshing change, this enlightening museum focuses on the history of transportation along the Danube, situated along the riverside in the old town.
The exhibitions are housed within two historic tugboats: The Ruthof/Érsekcsaná, a steam-powered vessel dating back to 1923, and the Freudenau, a diesel engine boat introduced in 1942. Information boards aboard the larger Ruthof/Érsekcsaná trace the evolution of shipping on the Danube, from rudimentary dugout canoes to contemporary logistics.
Visitors can also explore the preserved facilities on board, including the bunkering area, steam boiler, engine room, bridge, galley, and crew quarters.
15. St. Ulrich
The 13th-century Church of St. Ulrich was deconsecrated in 1824 but was never fully demolished.
Following extensive renovations, the building reopened as Regensburg’s diocesan museum.
The museum houses a collection of liturgical art, with its walls adorned by frescoes from the 1200s and 1500s.
Exhibitions are presented chronologically, spanning from the 1000s to the 1900s.
Among the notable exhibits are sculptures, paintings, and gold artifacts collected from Regensburg’s churches and monasteries, including a mitre from the early 1200s, a life-sized crucifix from the same period, and an exquisite ivory chalice.
