It’s a beautiful day and the Captain seems to have overcome the high water problem so we are off on another city tour. After a short ride to Regensburg through beautiful rural scenery, we find our guide and are ready for the tour. Uh oh, problems with our quiet boxes! Ted comes to the rescue holding our group sign as our guide, Melanie, straightens out the problem.
Regensburg is a medieval town and as we cross the 12th century stone bridge we see the Gothic spires of St. Peter’s Cathedral and the 900 year old Wurstkuchl. We’ll be stopping back there later for sausages and sauerkraut.
Some buildings in the old part of the city have painted facades and others have towers. After the third floor the towers are totally empty. Building a tower was just a way of showing off to your neighbors about how rich you were.
We pass the charming old city hall on our way to St. Peter’s Cathedral with its Gothic spires and carved figurines.
Inside the church it is quite dark and very Gothic. Light filters dimly through the many stained glass windows.
Up until the 1500’s Regensburg had a Jewish community which existed under the protection of Maximillian I. Three days after Maximillian died in 1519, all the Jews were expelled from Regensburg, thrown out in the middle of winter with only what they could carry. Everything trace of the Jewish population was destroyed and there only remains a memorial where the synagogue used to be. Even the Cathedral has a stone carving of a Judensau, a sow with suckling Jews underneath. It was carved on the side of the cathedral facing the Jewish quarter as an insult and a sign of the anti-Semitism in Regensburg.
After a stop at a local mega-mart for some chips and cheese, we head down to the Wurstlkuchl for a tasty lunch of sausages, sauerkraut, and beer. Yum!
John and I head back to the boat for a little r & r while Peg and Ted continue to explore. We meet for a cocktail party and dinner. Unfortunately I forget to bring my camera.
Tomorrow, Nuremburg!