Regensburg

The Romans had a "castra" here on the banks of the Danube. There might have been even a bishop´s seat in the late Roman times. The bishopric got refounded by St. Boniface in 739, when Regensburg was the seat of the Agilolfing ruling family.

Charlemagne ended that when he punished his disloyal cousin Tassilo III. Charlemagne stayed two winters here (791–793) to ensure his influence. Later this was the seat of Ludwig II ("Louis the German") in 843.

The "Steinerne Bruecke" (= Stone Bridge), seen here, was built across the Danube 1135-1146. Regensburg at that time was not only important but due to long distance trade pretty wealthy. Since 1245 Regensburg was a Free Imperial City.

The building of the large Cathedral (St. Peter) started in 1278 and replaced an older church, destroyed by fire. For about 300 years, the construction continued, before around 1520/1550 all building activities stopped. The two towers were actually finished in 1869, so the building history of the "prime example of Gothic architecture in Bavaria" has parallels to the cathedral in Cologne and Ulm, where as well, the towers were completed within the 19th century. The Regensburg Cathedral is the home of the famous "Regensburger Domstpatzen" ("cathedral sparrows"), a boys' choir with a history spanning more than 1000 years. - In case you consider to join the celebrated "Domspatzen", you should be a young boy - and consult this German website:

www.nachwuchsspatzen.de/

Regensburg still has some fortified, medieval tower houses. Some can be seen on the right.