"Regensburg, Fortress of Rain" Regensburg by bilgeez

Regensburg Travel Guide: 218 reviews and 670 photos

The Danube looking East - Regensburg
The Danube looking East
Regensburg an der Donau

Regensburg was originally the northernmost point of the Roman Empire. The Romans occupied the area before the Christian era. They built a fort there and a bridge over the Danube. The original pilings for the old stone bridge were supposedly placed by the Romans. Quite an engineering feat for the time! The Teutonic tribes turned the Romans away from expanding further into modern Germany and were stopped at the Danube. They retreated from the area about the time of the fall of the Empire in the fifth century.
Regensburg is one of the few cities in Germany that escaped Allied bombing in WWII. The allies planned raids on her, but were turned away by weather, sparing Regensburg and preserving the old buildings that remain to this day.
Regensburg, like many cities in Europe is compact and easy to get around. I mostly walked and rode my bike. There are good hike/bike trails on both sides of the Danube that extend for some distance from the city centre. (I never did reach the end of them, but I'm sure they are not infinite in length!) Taking these trails are very picturesque and worth it if you like to engage in such activities.
If one travels east on the north side of the Danube, one will come across Valhalla, the building looks like the Parthenon in Athens. As a matter of fact, it is almost an exact copy of it. It is the "Hall of Fame" for Gemany. In it are contained statues, busts and memorials to Germans who made major contributions to art, science and literature. Among them are, Strauss, Mozart, and Einstein, who incidently the only person so honored in this hall who was Jewish and an American Citizen! (As you know, Einstein became an American Citizen in 1940, partly as a propaganda plot after he emigrated here and was teaching at Princeton.)
As I was saying above, Regensburg is easy to get around, by foot, bike or public transit. The Deutsche Bahn station is close to the city centre and not so large as to be overwhelming.
Needless to say, Regensburg has many fine hotels and restaurants. I don't recall many names, but I have seen other travel pages that gives good information on them. When I stayed there, I stayed at a Youth Hostel that was a monestary, it was connected to the Diocesean offices which took about half the building. I have tried to locate it online with no success. Anyone out there know what I'm talking about? The hostel was located between the city centre and the Hauptbahnhof (train station). If and when I get specific info on it, I will make a tip of it!
By air is not the most cost-effective way to get there. Munich and Nuremberg are only about an hour by car or train. Frankfurt is about three hours.
Anyway, if one wishes to visit a city in Germany that has remained pretty much the same since the Renaissance and did not need major restoration after WWII, Regensburg may be the place. Although it does have many modern buildings many are quite old and still in use.

  • Last visit to Regensburg: Jul 1997
  • Intro Updated Oct 22, 2004
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Reviews (8)

Wachtturm Stadttor - Regensburg Wachtturm Stadttor Things to Do (5)

This is a Stadttor (City gate) that is on the east side of old town Regensburg. more travel advice

On Guard! - Regensburg Who's Watching City Hall? Things to Do (5)

At the Altes Rathaus in Regensburg is a freize with two men who seem to be leaning out of window. One is holding... more travel advice

Knight on Police Station - Regensburg Regensburg Police Station Things to Do (5)

Huh? Why visit the main police station? Well because of one thing. The current main cop shop has a painting on the side... more travel advice

Hauptbahnhof Regensburg - Regensburg DB to Regensburg Transportation (2)

Deutsche Bahn has regular, several- times- daily, rail service to Regensburg. I don't know if Lufthansa or Condor flies... more travel advice

Comments (6)

  • Reply
    bilgeez's Profile Photo
    Aug 15, 2009 at 4:54 PM

    I went there in 97, brought back memories as I worked at a Chrysler assembly plant from 76-78 in Detroit. True you have to pay the farthest zone for the bus there and it only goes a few times a day, unless they changed it since then

  • Reply
    wabIV's Profile Photo
    Jul 14, 2009 at 4:48 PM

    Hi Bill, Thank you for the great overview on Regensburg. It truly is a breathtaking city. I was there in 2007 and hope to visit again in the Fall.

  • Reply
    ExGuyParis's Profile Photo
    Oct 29, 2004 at 6:42 AM

    Very interesting page. I need to take some time to explore Germany; I am there working every week, but never really travel for fun!

  • Reply
    pepples46's Profile Photo
    Oct 23, 2004 at 7:11 PM

    but you do know ..the Swastica wasn't an invention of the Nazi's, they where not as clever as everyone thought they where ... excellent page Bill, super intro

  • Reply
    gambadilegno's Profile Photo
    Oct 23, 2004 at 3:50 PM

    Hay Bill, a very acurate site . Great pictures and a lot of informations of a beautiful city - my second hometown.

  • Reply
    Oct 23, 2004 at 3:36 AM

    Hi Bill, you share very interesting information and tips. A great new page. You provide a lot of good information :)

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