Spending a Day in the 'Largest Medieval Old Town' North of the Alps

By GERRY and PAMELA BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
November, 2019.

Photos by North Palm Beach Life

It's hard to believe, but we have arrived at the last stop on our Vantage cruise -- Regensburg. While we've enjoyed every stop, in many ways they've saved the best for last.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this city on the Danube River has the distinction of being "the largest medieval old town north of the Alps, with nearly 1,500 listed buildings," hince the moniker, "Italy's most northern city."

Due to an engine problem, Ms River Splendor wasn't able to dock alongside the city, so we arrived here by bus. Our tour group assembled and we entered the city over the old Stone Bridge, the same bridge  the Crusaders used, that was finished in 1146 AD.  You really do take a step back in time when you encounter Regenburg's Old Town. Button up your overcoat and let's go!

Pam on the old Stone Bridge

Crossing the old Stone Bridge that leads into the heart of Old Town

​Just across the Stone Bridge is one of the "oldest,  continuously open public restaurants in the world" -- the Regensburg Sausage Kitchen.  Opened in 1146 AD, it serves 6,000 sausages a day.  Just the smells from the kitchen make us ready to order lunch!

Once over the Stone Bridge, you are in Old Town, with its cobblestone
streets and historic buildings. 

To the left is a statue of Don Juan, who had interesting ties to this city; above, the Christmas market, and right, an actor tells us about what affect the plague had on Rehensburg.

The Gothic St. Peters Cathedral is awe-inspiring, both inside and out.
Building on it started in 1275 and continued into the late 1800s. Along with
magnificent stained glass windows and works of art, it houses the world's
largest, and heaviest, hanging pipe organ.  It takes your breath away.

Located across from the cathedral is the Haus Heuport Restaurant, where we landed for lunch on our own. It's both elegant and casual at the same time, and offers wonderful views of the city. Plus those great German sausages!

Later in the day, we pop into Bakery Schifferl, another great place to sit down with a pastry and hot chocolate. You can tell Pam, above, had a hard time deciding!

Back across trhe bridge, we stop for one last look at Regensburg before boarding the bus back mto the ship