Regensburg sits on the northernmost bend of the Danube and has been an important town for almost 2,000 years. It escaped major damage in the Second World War, so its medieval centre, with towers, churches and a 12th-century bridge, is one of the best preserved in Germany. Here are the facts and stories that make the city special.
10 fun facts about Regensburg
- A Roman fortress: the city began as Castra Regina, a legionary fortress founded in AD 179 under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Part of its north gate, the Porta Praetoria, still stands near the cathedral.
- A bridge built in eleven years: the Stone Bridge was built between about 1135 and 1146. For centuries it was the only crossing of the Danube between Ulm and Vienna, and it served as a model for other great bridges, including the predecessor of Prague's Charles Bridge.
- A kitchen for bridge builders: the Historic Sausage Kitchen next to the bridge began as the builders' site office and became an eatery when the bridge was finished. It may be the oldest continuously open public restaurant in the world.
- The Diet that never ended: from 1663 to 1806 the Perpetual Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire met permanently in Regensburg's Old Town Hall.
- World Heritage since 2006: the Old Town of Regensburg, together with Stadtamhof across the river, was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2006.
- Where Kepler died: the astronomer Johannes Kepler died in Regensburg in 1630, while visiting the city on business. A monument to him was erected in 1808, and the house where he died is now a museum.
- A choir more than a thousand years old: the Regensburger Domspatzen, the cathedral's boys' choir, traces its history back to 975. From 1964 to 1994 it was led by Georg Ratzinger, brother of Pope Benedict XVI, who himself taught at the University of Regensburg.
- A prince born in Regensburg: Don John of Austria, the son of Emperor Charles V who led the Christian fleet to victory at Lepanto in 1571, was born here in 1547. His statue stands on Zieroldsplatz.
- Towers for show: rich medieval merchant families built tall tower houses to display their wealth, in the style of Italian cities.
- A cathedral finished six centuries later: St Peter's Cathedral was begun in 1273 in the Gothic style, but its two openwork spires were only completed in 1869.
The bridge, the cathedral and the devil
Regensburg's best-known legend says the master builder of the cathedral and his apprentice, who was building the bridge, made a bet on who would finish first. Falling behind, the bridge builder made a pact with the devil: the devil would help him, and in return would receive the first three souls to cross the bridge. The bridge was finished first, but the builder sent a rooster, a hen and a dog across before any person. The furious devil tried to destroy the bridge and failed, which, the legend says, is why it has a slight hump. In reality, the bridge was finished long before work on the Gothic cathedral began in 1273.
St Emmeram, explained
St Emmeram's grew up over the grave of Emmeram, a missionary bishop killed in the late 7th century. A Benedictine abbey formed around it and became one of the leading monasteries in Bavaria. In the 18th century the Asam brothers gave the basilica its lavish Baroque interior. After the abbey was dissolved, the former monastery buildings were given in 1812 to the princely Thurn und Taxis family, in compensation for the loss of their postal monopoly.
What to eat in Regensburg
- Regensburger sausages: small grilled pork sausages, served with sauerkraut and sweet Bavarian mustard at the Historic Sausage Kitchen.
- Knödel: Bavarian dumplings made from bread or potato, served with roast pork and rich gravy.
- Dampfnudel: a large, soft yeast dumpling steamed in a pan until it forms a crisp, caramelised base, served with vanilla sauce.
- Obatzda: a spread of ripe soft cheese, butter, paprika and onion, eaten with pretzels in beer gardens.
- Local beer: Regensburg has its own breweries, and a beer garden by the Danube is the classic way to end a summer day.
Good to know before you go
- Boats leave from the old town for the Walhalla, King Ludwig I's hall of fame for great Germans, opened in 1842 high above the Danube.
- The Domspatzen often sing at Sunday morning Mass in the cathedral during the school year, but check the schedule before you go.
- St Emmeram Palace can be visited on guided tours, and its courtyards host a popular Christmas market in December.
- For the best view of the skyline, walk across the Stone Bridge to Stadtamhof and look back at the cathedral spires.
Explore Regensburg with World City Trail
Our Regensburg scavenger hunt turns these sights into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around three hours, with about 46 minutes of walking, past landmarks including the Kepler Monument and the Basilica of St Emmeram.
At each stop you solve a puzzle and hear a short story, at your own pace. You can start whenever you like and play in English, German, French, Italian or Dutch.
Play the Regensburg scavenger hunt →
Facts checked in October 2026.