Regensburg Sightseeing and Excursions
From Regensburg, Germany

ABOVE: Walhalla, in nearby Donaustauf, is easy to reach by car or excursion boat.

Sightseeing in the Altstadt

The Regensburg Tourist-Information office in the Altes Rathaus has a free "Living History" brochure that outlines four self-guided walking tours. Another good resource is Regensburg: Guide to the City with 70 Colour Pictures, a book that I describe on my Regensburg guidebooks and maps page. And, of course, you'll want to allow time for visits to at least some of the places that I've listed under Regensburg churches and museums.

As you walk around the Altstadt or Old Town, use the Tourist-Information office's free "At a Glance: Regensburg" map to identify important mounments such as:

Steinerne Brücke, the Old Stone Bridge, which has spanned the Danube for almost 900 years. At the bridge's head next to the Altstadt is the Brückturm or Bridge Tower where you can see exhibits about the Danube and enjoy a view of the city's rooftops.

Porta Praetoria, a Roman gatehouse built in 179 A.D. This portal, which lies between the Cathedral square and the Danube, was the northern entrance to the Castra Regina military camp in the time of Marcus Aurelius. (Look for other remnants of the Roman wall to the east of Maximilianstraβe as you enter the city from the railway station and in the underground garage at Dachauplatz.)

Kohlenmarkt, with its Old and New Town Halls.

Palace of Thurn and Taxis, which belongs to the descendants of a prince who made his fortune with Europe's first postal monopoly. You can take guided tours of the palace and the St. Emmeram cloisters, and the palace also has two museums: The Coach House Museum (owned by the princely family) and the Thurn and Taxis Museum (a branch of the Bavarian State Museum where you can see the family's former treasures).

Also, the BMW car factory on the city's outskirts is a "must see" attraction for car enthusiasts or anyone who'd like to get a close-up look at a state-of-the-art industrial plant. (See my BMW Factory Tour article for pictures and details.)

Walhalla Excursion

The most popular side trip from Regensburg is an outing by boat to Walhalla, which Ludwig I of Bavaria built from 1830 to 1842 as a hall of fame for writers, artists, musicians, and other notables from the German-speaking world. You can also drive to the Parthenon-style building, which overlooks the Danube from a hill near Donaustauf (a village where you'll also find a ruined fortress worth exploring). Walhalla is about 10 km or 6 miles from the center of Regensburg.

Next page: Danube river and cruises

Photo copyright © Presse- und Informationstelle, Stadt Regensburg. Used by permission.

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