Ahhhh, Regensburg!

For some reason, blogger puts my pictures in 1 long streaming column instead of grouping them together. I apologize if all the pictures seem overwhelming layed out this way. I haven't quite figured out all the kinks in blogger so I have some weird spacing throughout. Sorry!!

AND - as an FYI - if you click on the pictures they will open up HUGE on your screen. I recommend opening a few of the Dom St. Peter pictures to see all the detail.

The narrow cobblestone streets of Regensburg.

Wow, Regensburg was amazing and we didn't even scratch the surface. Regensburg is about 25 minutes away from us so it definitely is a place that we will return to over and over to keep exploring and enjoying. We spent a couple of hours walking around the city yesterday and we had a great time.

The Regensburg at a Glance brochure says that "Writers, politicians, and some of the greatest figures in world history have made surprising assertations about Regensburg. And they have been proved right."

And a little information from Foder's See It In Germany -

"Regensburg is a city steeped in history and rich with relics from many periods. The cathedral city sits neatly beside the romantic Danube, its church spires sharing the skyline with the palaces of great noble families and the 13th and 14th century patrician houses. Remarkably the city escaped the wartime devestation suffered by nearby cities, so its many historical buildings are unscathed, and its narrow cobbled streets and lively squares are a joy to explore. The city's leading families built towers in competition with each other, the most impressive bring the Kastenmayerhous with its four-floor tower, and the Goldener Turn with its imposing golden tower and Renaissance courtyard in the Wahlenstrasse, the city's oldest street."

The Golden Tower in the Renaissance Courtyard.

Some of the sites we saw (and took pictures of) while in Regensburg were the Old Stone Bridge which was built in the 12th century, St. Peter's Catherdral (Dom St. Peter) which is just amazing, the golden tower, the narrow cobblestone streets and the Historoische Wurstkuche (ancient sausage kitchen) which is where sausages have been grilled along the Danube for hundreds of years.

Driving through the streets of Regensburg - can you see the hood of our car?

The Old Stone Bridge and views of Regensburg and the Danube from the bridge

The Historoische Wurstkuche where we ate grilled sausages with sweet mustard and kraut on a smal rye bun - delicious!

Luke didn't seem to mind the bumpy ride all over town on the cobblestone streets. Walking along the Danube, all he wanted to do was get out of the stroller and see the "ocean" and I kept trying to explain to him that it was a river he was looking at, an ice cold river, not an ocean. :) The most amazing thing that we saw while in Regensburg was the St. Peter Cathedral which was just overwhelming and beautiful. A quick history lesson on the cathedral (taken from The St. Peter's Cathedral pamphlet)

• Around the early 700s, the Regernburg diocese was established by St. Boniface.
• In the late 8th or 9th century the cathedral was erected.
• In the early 11th century there was a major extension with 2 flanking towers and an atrium.
• In 1273, after a fire burned down the cathedral, new construction began.
• Around 1295, a new architect plans High Gothic structure.
• In 1320 the new cathedral is ready for use and the remaining old cathedral was demolished.
• From 1514-1548, Cathedral cloisters were built.
• From 1613 to 1648, there was a restoration of the cathedral and Baroque furnishings were added.
• In 1828, King Ludwig I orders redecoration in Gothic style (which we see today) and a Baroque dome over crossing is replaced by cross-ribbed vault.
• In 1869, the towers with steeples are completed.
• In 1872, the Cathedral is at last finished after 600 years of work.

We have many pictures from the Cathedral. You can see the alter, the alter to Mary, the cross-ribbed ceilings, the stained glass windows, the old pews, the statues, and the exterior of the building which is a work of art unto itself. I could go see the Catherdral thousands of times and never get tired with it - it is breathtaking and steeped in history.

Pictures of St. Peter's Cathedral (Dom St. Peter)

Additional pictures from Regensburg

Regensburg is an amazing and historical place. We have so many more places in Regensburg to discover and since we went on a Sunday all the stores and shops were closed. There are old churches, the town hall, museums, beergartens, restaurants and shops all over Regensburg to explore. Hope you enjoyed the pictures, we enjoyed the trip.