Stellen Sie sich vor: Sie kennen Regensburg, den Dom St. Peter, die Steinerne Brücke aus Bildern oder vom eigenen Besuch und finden das alles derart wunderbar, dass es Ihnen mitunter schon ein wenig unangenehm ist. Irgendwo könnte man sich ja gefährlich nahe am Klischee entlang bewegen. Und dann gefällt die Donaustadt auch noch wirklich allen.

The UNESCO World Heritage City stopped being an insider tip a long time ago. Yet, Regensburg still is one of those rare places where the alleys whisper to you, walks turn into quests of discovery, and a very special magic wafts through the historic walls. Some call Bavaria’s first capital the “best preserved medieval city”, others call it “Germany’s medieval marvel”, and both are right.

It’s a little off the beaten path, admittedly. But it is located in the center of Europe. And a visit to this lively city is always worth your while, even more so because it is conveniently located at a traffic interchange between the Munich-, Frankfurt-, and Prague-bound routes. It’s not just the architecture that envelops visitors in a sort of Italian flair; the locals’ estival lifestyle is also Mediterranean: They embrace every occasion to celebrate great street parties, whether it's jazz, art, a jubilee, or their historical traditions. And the fact that Regensburg offers an abundant variety of culinary specialties is evident at every turn: in street cafés, pubs, restaurants, and the many shady beer gardens.

A CITY MADE FOR ENJOYMENT

The best way to get to know the heart and essence of Regensburg is to take a guided tour of the city. In an entertaining 90-minute tour, visitors explore old buildings and historical events, an eventful history full of fun anecdotes, tucked-away courtyards, and secluded narrow alleys. This is the best way to take a first look behind the scenes of this youthful, dynamic city, so you can come back and explore on your own later. It is also an ideal introduction to understand what makes this ancient city so youthful and how Regensburgers by birth and by choice enjoy their city and its lifestyle.

DIVERSITY ALL AROUND

But Regensburg offers more than urban life because its appeal does not end at the city limits. Thanks to its location amidst the valleys of Danube, Regen, Naab, and Laaber, the city offers the cultural and gastronomic amenities of a large city as well as the recreational opportunities of a varied landscape. Be it hiking or cycling, inline skating, mountain biking, climbing, rowing, or canoeing, all these sports are available right outside the city. There is a lot on offer for cyclists, in particular: The famous Danube Bike Trail leads from the river source all the way past Vienna. But Regensburg is also the starting point of the Regentalweg that leads to the Czech border, and it is a stop on the 136-mile Danube Panorama Trail from Neustadt an der Donau to Passau with its very special link between nature and culture.

You can also cycle along the Naab or the Laaber, discovering quiet, picturesque, or athletically challenging landscapes. And only a few miles from Regensburg is the Bavarian Forest Nature Park or the Danube Gorge near Kelheim.

BIG, BIGGER, REGENSBURG

Regensburg is bursting with unique features: It is considered the best-preserved medieval city with the oldest preserved stone bridge in Germany, the Porta Praetori, which is also Germany’s oldest high-rise building. There is the Thurn and Taxis Castle, Europe’s largest inhabited castle, and the historic Reichssaal, which was the seat of the perpetual Reichstag, Germany’s and Europe’s first parliament. The world’s oldest college of religious music is located here, as is Germany’s oldest café. The “document Neupfarrplatz” is the largest excavation of a medieval Jewish quarter. So let’s face it: You don’t really know Regensburg, the city of the future.

EXPERIENCING WORLD HERITAGE

CITY TOURS: IN 2006, REGENSBURG WAS LISTED AMONG THE EXCLUSIVE “UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE OF MANKIND”. FOR GOOD REASON: ITS OLD TOWN IS UNIQUE, FEATURING NEARLY A THOUSAND MONUMENTS FROM TWO THOUSAND YEARS OF EUROPEAN HISTORY IN A VERY SMALL AREA.