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Sunday, May 19, 2019

A Stroll Around Regensburg

Gate protecting the Steinbrucke across the Danube
One of the destinations in our Bavaria-Tirol travels in May 2018, was the city of Regensburg.  After departing Munich, the direct train to Regensburg was chosen as the means to reach the Medieval city.  Regensburg?  That was Nancy's question to me too when the itinerary was in the planning stage.  Scheduled midway through our holiday, Regensburg offered a chance to relax a bit before traveling on to Salzburg and Zurich.  I sold the stop as a chance to see a Medieval German city that averted destruction during WWII.  With her interest in ancient cathedrals, Regensburg was not a tough sell.  We would remain within the walled, old town.  Adding in the enjoyment of walking along the Danube and through the meandering, Medieval streets, two nights in Regensburg was really an easy decision.      
Old Stone Bridge across the Danube
Besides a cultural center, Regensburg (Ratisbon) played an important role at the beginning of Napoleon's 1809 campaign.  Perhaps, this historical tie provided the motivation on my part for the visit?  It was during the fourth attempt at storming Regensburg's Medieval walls that Lannes grabbed a scaling ladder prepared to lead the assault before being restrained by his aides.  The French attackers carried the walls on this fourth attempt.  Napoleon received a spent cannon ball to the ankle while watching this event.      
City plan for Regensburg
Following the battles of Abensberg and Eckmuhl, Napoleon used Regensburg as his residence and headquarters for a few days.  The building below displays a plague commemorating Napoleon's stay. 

Napoleon was here
Parts of Medieval Regensburg are still intact including the Medieval walls and gates.  The East Gate has become a major thoroughfare through the city. 
Ostentor
Regensburg still clings to an earlier time when Romans built and maintained an outpost on the banks of the Danube.  Elements of the Roman Porta Praetoria can be seen today along the narrow streets near the river's edge. 
Porta Praetoria
Porta Praetoria
Porta Praetoria
What about the churches and cathedral?  There are many worthy of a stop with St. Peter's Cathedral being one of the most impressive.  
St. Peter's Cathedral
St. Peter's dominates cityscape
Interior Niedermunster
Interior Niedermunster
Interior St. Emmeram's Basilica
Interior St. Emmeram's Basilica


Of course, being on the Danube, Regensburg is a popular stop for Danube River cruises.  These low-profile ships are seen frequently.  To pass under the arches of the Old Stone Bridge they must be low profile.  Perhaps, a Danube River cruise would be a fun escape? 
Regensburg is a beautiful city with much to offer to the traveler.  Time spent here is time well-spent.  I recommend it.  Regensburg was not the sole focus of my attention during the two night stay.  Early on the second morning, I boarded a local train and headed off for a quick battlefield walk while Nancy remained in town.  With a number of battlefields within reach, which did I choose?  That military-themed exploration is left for another time.

26 comments:

  1. Lovely looking city....not a bit of Europe I know ....so I should go sometime🙂

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  2. A great collection of images Jonathan. I never made it to Regensburg but did visit a number of the German Rhine and Danube towns and cities back in the 1980s. Your post brought back many memories.

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    1. Happy to rekindle some happy memories of your Germany trips, Mark!

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  3. Great pictures. Looks like a very interesting, and attractive place.

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    1. Regensburg is photogenic! We enjoyed our short stay there.

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  4. Excellent travelogue. I must try and pay a visit next time I am traveling.
    Thanks for this.

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    1. You are welcome! Glad you found the brief travelogue entertaining.

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  5. Fantastic place! Have to go someday!

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  6. Great looking gates and cathedral! Looking forward to the battlefield report!
    Best Iain

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    1. Curating travel photos always seems to take a great deal of time as witnessed by the one year lag in posting this visit. With determination, perhaps, the follow-on battlefield visit will not wait another year!

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  7. Great photos and post Jonathan - those gates are impressive.

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    1. Thanks, Oli. The gates and old fortifications are impressive.

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  8. I was fortunate to visit Regensburg way back in 1974, during our European tour with the University of Connecticut Marching Band. Regensburg was an optional side excursion. They didn't provide us with much an advance itinerary for this trip at all, and thus it was only when I was on the bus traveling there that I realized that Regensburg was Ratisbon. Seeing the bride in person made it obvious why destroying it effectively was all but impossible. I still have a souvenir plate of the city, with the famous bride prominently featured!

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    1. It would be interesting for you to revisit to see how much has changed in the intervening 45 years. forty-five years! Yikes! We are getting old, my friend.

      I imagine much of the Old Town remains the same. There was new construction going on in the Old Town building a large structure. I forgot what it was but maybe either a new museum or convention center.

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  9. I would love to do a Danube cruise; just to see the architecture.

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    1. A Danube River cruise would be great fun. Hope you get to make it happen.

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  10. Very nice to see that you was in Regensburg. I loved the town, local Pubs and beer and those many Museums. I would suppose that you didn't missed to visit the Reichstag? I was very impressed to see all the seats of the ambassadors and to realize that exactly beneath the rooms of the Reichstag was the prison of Regensburg and the place where the prisoners were tortured (following the law - like the Constutia Criminalis Carolina).

    Cheers

    Damnitz

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    1. Yes, we visited the Reichstag with its unique and lovely bay window. I am surprised I have no photo. I must look again. Regensburg is a beautiful city offering great sights and very good food. Thank you for your comments!

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  11. Wish I'll cross these gates one day...Meanwhile fantastic pitures!

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  12. Beautiful Journey and photos of a trully
    atmospheric City!! Thank you!

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