Regensburg, Germany
Our morning started early today in Vilshofen, a small German town outside of Regensburg. After our breakfast we started our trip to the medieval city of Regensburg. Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and the Regen Rivers. Regensburg was an important Roman settlement and is our first place to discover. On a cold and rainy morning, our tour began with a history walk around the city, or time for individual exploration.
Regensburg is a well-preserved old town and we walked past beautiful buildings and narrow streets where we saw many coffee shops, restaurants, and structures with amazing histories. One of the most important structures in Regensburg is the Stone Bridge (Steinebrücke). The bridge was built between 1135-1146 and is a great representation of medieval architecture. The knights of the 2nd and 3rd crusade used this same bridge to cross over the Danube River.
Another important building is the Regensburg Cathedral (Regensburg Dom). It is a very interesting example of pure, German, gothic architecture. It was founded in 1275 and completed in 1634. Its towers were finished in 1869.
After our city tour we were ready for a Bavarian lunch. We had our lunch in a delicious restaurant at the entrance of Thurn und Taxis Castle, another amazing building complex in Regensburg. This is also the place where we spent the rest of our afternoon.
Thurn und Taxis is a German family that was a key player in the postal service in Europe in the 16th century. Still today they are well known as owners of many properties in Europe. The tour of the castle included the crypt chapel, the silver salon, the marble staircase, and many other unique and historic rooms.
At the end of the day, we met and drove back to the River Cloud in Vilshofen. Departing immediately, we began our first evening of cruising the Danube River.
