Regensburg, Germany

I was very anxious to attend my dental appointment in Regensburg, but our tour director wisely advised me to do the walking tour first. 

As it happened, it rained the whole time and was pouring by the time I left the group to go to the dentist. But I was very glad to have had the tour. Interestingly our local tour guide was an African lady, but very knowledgeable and passionate about the town and very helpful getting me a taxi to go to the dentist when the walking tour was over.  

Before I left on this trip, not having studied history, I had not realised how far the Roman Empire had extended into Germany and beyond. As we were travelling along the river, one evening out of the blue we saw what looked like an amazing Roman forum with its tall pillars up on the slope of one of the hills overlooking the river. It looked magnificent, with light from the setting sun illuminating it and making it glow. Unfortunately we sailed past it before I had a chance to take a photo, but we were all astonished and wondered what its background story was. There were no other buildings in sight. It was surrounded by trees. 

But here in Regensburg there was clear evidence that the Romans had lived there once. We walked across an ancient bridge built by the Romans, which is now being extended and restored,  and saw what had been their building for storing grain right next to the bridge. This building is full of ancient heavy wooden beams and is now used for exhibitions. The grain would have been brought to the town by boat. 

Near the bridge we also saw what was described to us as the oldest cafe in the world - a place to buy a meal featuring sausages and coffee and beer. This cafe apparently was started in Roman times too, though clearly has been rebuilt. It is now so popular every seat in the outdoor dining area is filled all day long and it always sells over 5000 sausages every day!  They must taste yum! 

As we walked into the town, we saw markers on buildings showing where flood waters had reached. The flooding had clearly been quite severe, which is why so much is now done to control the flow of the Danube. 

As well, we saw four tall towers within the town walls that had been built there to watch over the citizens to see them safe. And we saw the only home for the elderly in the town where the residents are allowed to drink beer. As they will have drunk beer all their lives, I bet it has a long waiting list!

Overall this was a very interesting historic town with many attractive shops, lovely gardens (which I saw from the two taxis) and additional picturesque rivers flowing alongside it. And it has a great dental clinic! . . .

Along our walk into the old town.

Another river flowing near the town.

A view along the Danube in the direction of our river ship from the old Roman bridge. 

And in the other direction . . .

A view of the archway entering the old town from the bridge.

A closer view of the archway. The building on the far left is the old grain store.

The old Roman bridge from outside the old grain store.

It was too wet for the usual custom at the old sausage cafe.

A 3-D bronze map of the old town that was installed some years ago. It clearly shows the town walls.

A famous David and Goliath fresco in the town. As I recall it was to celebrate the town's win over some attacker. I wish I could remember more detail.

View along one of the old streets. 

And along another street. I believe townspeople tried to build the tallest villa they could to show how wealthy they were. 

An historic building now used for the town administration.

The cathedral at the centre of the old town. This is undergoing restoration work.