We have a TON of trips coming up in the next two months, but Todd has been out of town (went back to the US for some training) and I was itching to do some exploring. So we decided to hit up the well preserved medieval city of Regensburg, Germany, only about an hour and 15 minutes from home. Our first stop, oddly was H&M at the mall in Regensburg, ha ha. Obviously we didn't take any pictures of that but we got some needed clothes for the kids (Easter dress included).
Regensburg is a UNESCO World Heritage site, due to it's cultural influence on the world as an important shipping location. It's situated at the confluence of the Danube, Regen, and Naab rivers making it an important center of trade, especially during the Middle Ages. In English, the city is commonly known as Ratisbon. Some famous former residents of Regensburg include Johannes Kepler, Oskar Schindler, and Pope Benedict XVI (although he actually lived in a suburb of Regensburg and not directly in the city limits, but he did teach at the University of Regensburg!)
We knew we wanted to eat lunch at the world famous (and oldest!) sausage kitchen, or the Wirstküche. So we headed in that direction and passed the beautiful Regensburg Cathedral. Todd and I both thought (separately) that it kind of reminded us of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, especially the spires.
Behold! The Historical Wurstküche!
But first, we must EAT! Mmmm! Sausages with sauerkraut and pumpernickel bread at the Wurstküche! The Wurstküche has been here since at least the mid 1100s, and some believe it's the oldest continuously running restaurant in the world. Outside, it only serves plates of sausages with sauerkraut. There's a bowl of pumpernickel bread on the table and you can serve yourself, however... honesty is the policy here, so when you go to pay your bill, let them know honestly how many of those tasty rolls you ate! Oh and don't forget to try the sweet and spicy mustard that goes along with the sausages.
The sun was shining and although it was chilly and breezy down by the river, we wanted to eat outside anyway. When in Rome!
There was a cute little mallard duck who walked around begging for food. SO funny!
Looking down the Danube.
Grant wanted to pretend like he was touching the duck. Silly goose!
We decided that even though half of the historic Stone Bridge was under construction, we would still walk across it. The Stone Bridge originated in the 12th century, although a wooden bridge had been built by Charlemagne roughly 100 meters downstream of the current Stone Bridge location. Naturally, due to flooding, the wooden bridge was frequently destroyed, so eventually in the mid 1100s, the new Stone Bridge was built. Some thought it should be the 8th Wonder of the World. It's still Germany's oldest stone bridge.
Once you cross the bridge on the north side of the Danube, you see this lovely row of pretty pastel buildings!
As we were going to make our way back across the Stone Bridge, Todd made the kids stop and take this cute picture. I love the Regensburg Cathedral in the background.
Just at the gate at the south side of the Stone Bridge, under the clock tower, there is a UNESCO World Heritage Museum. GO SEE THIS! It's not very big, but it's very interactive and gives a fantastic history of the city, of which it's all in English! The kids really enjoyed it too. Above, we see Grant checking out one of the pinnacles from the transept gable of the Regensburg Cathedral that dates back to the 1500s!
Next we wanted to hit up the Cathedral, but you can barely make out at the far end of this street above, there's a massive painting of David and Goliath!
The Regensburg Cathedral is very impressive on the inside. The stained glass is unreal. It seems more like a mosaic and the pieces are smaller than usual for stained glass. Most of the stained glass is from the 12 and 1300s, although the church itself was completed in 1520. It was a bit dark in there and kind of hard to get pictures without a flash, so this was really the only decent one we got.
Afterward, it was time to continue our stroll, do some more shopping and get some eis!
We found an eis gelato place and got some yummy ice cream. Natalie had lemon, Grant had chocolate and Todd and I both got mango! Mango gelato is my new obsession.
I couldn't find anything about this cute paw print in the ground in Regensburg. But in order to show off Grant's sweet new shoes, we had to get a picture of this!
Daddy walking around a tree near the Alte Kapelle (or the Old Chapel) in front of a half timber house while the kids are being silly.
When we first walked into the Alte Kapelle, the lights were all off. They don't allow you into the actual church, so you have to see everything and take pictures from behind the iron gates. But this one is a real beauty with lots of frescoes and gold. Some say this is the oldest church in Bavaria, as there has been a church on this location since the 700s. As with most churches in Europe, there's a history of redesign and redecoration, as well as reconstruction due to fire and war.
Beautiful ceiling frescoes from the 18th century and gold. Lots and lots of gold.
Checking out the pretty iron gate in the north nave.
Suddenly a group of elderly tourists came in and viola! The lights came on! Sweet!
We walked by this insanely weird store that reminded me of this flea market that I went to in Paris with my friend Sara in 2013. So, once again, we feature Todd's latest obsession. Creepy doll heads...
Remember when we saw these in Bamberg? I've been looking for them in every city I've been too since! These are Solperstein's, to commemorate those who were deported from their homes during the Nazi regime.
Time to head home after a long day in Regensburg. But not before checking out the trains!
Wait, what kind of place is this!?!
Grant wanted to pretend like he was touching the duck. Silly goose!
We decided that even though half of the historic Stone Bridge was under construction, we would still walk across it. The Stone Bridge originated in the 12th century, although a wooden bridge had been built by Charlemagne roughly 100 meters downstream of the current Stone Bridge location. Naturally, due to flooding, the wooden bridge was frequently destroyed, so eventually in the mid 1100s, the new Stone Bridge was built. Some thought it should be the 8th Wonder of the World. It's still Germany's oldest stone bridge.
Once you cross the bridge on the north side of the Danube, you see this lovely row of pretty pastel buildings!
As we were going to make our way back across the Stone Bridge, Todd made the kids stop and take this cute picture. I love the Regensburg Cathedral in the background.
Just at the gate at the south side of the Stone Bridge, under the clock tower, there is a UNESCO World Heritage Museum. GO SEE THIS! It's not very big, but it's very interactive and gives a fantastic history of the city, of which it's all in English! The kids really enjoyed it too. Above, we see Grant checking out one of the pinnacles from the transept gable of the Regensburg Cathedral that dates back to the 1500s!
Next we wanted to hit up the Cathedral, but you can barely make out at the far end of this street above, there's a massive painting of David and Goliath!
The Regensburg Cathedral is very impressive on the inside. The stained glass is unreal. It seems more like a mosaic and the pieces are smaller than usual for stained glass. Most of the stained glass is from the 12 and 1300s, although the church itself was completed in 1520. It was a bit dark in there and kind of hard to get pictures without a flash, so this was really the only decent one we got.
Afterward, it was time to continue our stroll, do some more shopping and get some eis!
We found an eis gelato place and got some yummy ice cream. Natalie had lemon, Grant had chocolate and Todd and I both got mango! Mango gelato is my new obsession.
I couldn't find anything about this cute paw print in the ground in Regensburg. But in order to show off Grant's sweet new shoes, we had to get a picture of this!
Daddy walking around a tree near the Alte Kapelle (or the Old Chapel) in front of a half timber house while the kids are being silly.
When we first walked into the Alte Kapelle, the lights were all off. They don't allow you into the actual church, so you have to see everything and take pictures from behind the iron gates. But this one is a real beauty with lots of frescoes and gold. Some say this is the oldest church in Bavaria, as there has been a church on this location since the 700s. As with most churches in Europe, there's a history of redesign and redecoration, as well as reconstruction due to fire and war.
Beautiful ceiling frescoes from the 18th century and gold. Lots and lots of gold.
Checking out the pretty iron gate in the north nave.
Suddenly a group of elderly tourists came in and viola! The lights came on! Sweet!
On our way to our next stop, we saw the Weissbrauhaus. It dates back to 1620, and we love that date, since that is the year the pilgrims landed in Plymouth Harbor!
We wanted to walk up the tower at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church, but it was closed for renovation. As in, the whole church was! But we were able to see this great view of the Regensburg Cathedral on the way.
Space man on fire walking down the street. Framed on the outside of
someone's home. I looked this up and it's a Jack Crossing picture.
It's called "6th Avenue" and the artist describes it as this: "An unused piece of artwork I pitched years ago and subsequently sold as a limited edition print in 2011."
Remember when we saw these in Bamberg? I've been looking for them in every city I've been too since! These are Solperstein's, to commemorate those who were deported from their homes during the Nazi regime.
Time to head home after a long day in Regensburg. But not before checking out the trains!
Wait, what kind of place is this!?!
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