Scott Herder and Megan Indoe of BoboandChichi.com share how they fell in love with Historic Highlight of Germany Regensburg, and what makes this captivating heritage city one of their all-time favorites. Regensburg’s almost perfectly preserved medieval city that survived WWII with only 13% damage – a rarity in Germany – earned the university town on the Danube UNESCO World Heritage status. Fun fact: Regensburg boasts over 1,200 designated historic protected buildings and was once considered one of Europe’s largest cities in the 13th century.
Their Regensburg Highlights:
- The 12th-century Stone Bridge spanning the Danube
- Historic Sausage Kitchen – world’s oldest continuously running restaurant (since 1135)
- St. Peter’s Cathedral with original medieval stained glass
- 20 surviving medieval family towers flaunting historic wealth
- Traditional breweries dating to 1530 and 1649
- Porta Praetoria Roman ruins from 179 AD
- Café Prinzess – Germany’s oldest chocolate shop (1686)
- World’s only Dachshund Museum
- Artisan shops, including Disney’s Mad Hatter creator
- Walhalla memorial via Danube boat cruise
Regensburg’s strategic location on the Danube River created centuries of wealth, evident in the city’s unique medieval towers. These private fortress-like structures, attached to residences, served purely as status symbols – the taller your tower, the wealthier you appeared. Though 60 once dotted the skyline, 20 still survive, none allowed to surpass the Town Hall tower.
Scott and Megan’s culinary adventures in Regensburg centered on Bavaria’s beer culture. At breweries operating since 1530 and 1649, they discovered lively beer halls with dedicated “regulars’ sections” where locals gather nightly, some sporting traditional lederhosen. They sampled generous beer flights brewed under the German Purity Law, enjoyed ‘Bavarian tapas,’ and discovered obazda – an irresistible cheese and butter spread served with pretzels.
The legendary Historic Sausage Kitchen proved unforgettable. Operating continuously since feeding Stone Bridge construction workers in 1135, this tiny green building serves 6,000 sausages daily. Scott and Megan dined inside the historic stand itself, noting flood markers that showed when the Danube had nearly submerged the building. They paired traditional sausages on sauerkraut beds with homemade sweet mustard and dark draft beer.
At Germany’s oldest chocolate shop, Café Prinzess (serving royalty since 1686), they indulged in artistically crafted chocolates. Local specialty Regensburg knackers – boiled pork sausages with horseradish, mustard, and pickles on buns – provided perfect snacking while exploring.
The couple’s artisan discoveries included meeting third-generation master basket weaver Hans Weger, who serenaded them on piano after their purchase; fifth-generation brush makers whose brooms last 40 years; and hat maker Andreas Nuslan, who crafted Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter hat for Disney.
Their cultural explorations spanned Roman gates to Gothic splendor. At St. Peter’s Cathedral, they admired the preserved medieval stained glass while listening to the boys’ choir rehearsals in the gardens. The whimsical Dachshund Museum, celebrating Germany’s “sausage dogs” known for their badger-hunting abilities, brought ear-to-ear smiles. A scenic Danube cruise led to Walhalla, Bavaria’s Hall of Fame, modeled after the Parthenon, which requires a 350-step climb.
They even sampled medicinal bitter elixirs from monasteries and apothecaries, including the oldest shop in Regensburg (1259), experiencing traditional German digestive aids firsthand.
For Scott and Megan’s complete Regensburg adventure, including specific dining and accommodation recommendations, artisan shop locations, and brewery details, read their full article at boboandchichi.com/things-to-do-in-regensburg