Continuing our second week in Germany, we toured the city of Regensburg, two hours northwest of Augsburg. Settled by the Romans in the First Century AD, the city has changed hands and seen many architecture eras in its lifetime. The city was largely spared during World War II, so Regensburg stands as one of the few German cities with so much original architecture.

Much like Augsburg, Regensburg served as an important settlement for the Romans north of the Alps. Parts of the original Roman fortifications remain, which housed a maximum of 6,000 Roman legionnaires. The city expanded throughout the Medieval period, standing as the capital of Bavaria before Munich undertook the duty centuries later. The city was a large trade hub during this period (as Augsburg was as well) because the city was built with the only crossing of the Danube River for its entire length. As a result, most trade traffic between northern Europe and the rest of the world travelled through Regensburg for a significant period of time. The city became home to wealthy merchants and artisans. The families of which built large houses and towers to demonstrate their fortune, and many of these still stand; the highest having 9 stories.

As the center of Bavaria moved from Regensburg to Munich, so did the wealth and the interest; the city was not modernized as other cities were. As a result, the Medieval architecture and urban planning remains as it was, giving the town a unique Old European atmosphere.

Regensburg is different than anything I’ve experienced in my life. While its history is similar to Augsburg, its present-day appearance is vastly different. Much of Augsburg was redeveloped after World War II, and therefore is a much more modern city – even the more historical locations. Regensburg was untouched, and retains the cramped but elegant environment it maintained in the 14th and 15th centuries. It’s vastly different compared to the United States; the town itself is nearly 6 times older than the United States themselves, let alone any towns or cities. It was very different compared to everything so far, but was something I was very glad to experience.

Before returning to Augsburg, we stopped at Walhalla, a German hall of fame, so to speak, constructed in the Hellenistic style by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. The hall features marble busts of famous and influential German-speaking people, including Einstein, Mozart, Beethoven, Kepler, Planck, Copernicus, Martin Luther, Johannes Gutenberg, and many prominent German monarchs. Walhalla sits atop a hill overlooking the Danube and the villages below, with Regensburg visible in the distance.

Overall, it was a very good day, with lots learned and good food eaten. Tomorrow will take us on a trip to Neuschwanstein Castle in the Alps.