Jump to content

Regensburg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 209.7.119.175 (talk) at 15:02, 10 September 2008 (→‎History). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the similarly-named Swiss municipality, see Regensberg.
Regensburg
Town
Coat of arms of Regensburg
Coat of arms
Location of Regensburg
Map
CountryGermany
StateBavaria
Admin. regionOberpfalz
DistrictUrban district
Subdivisions18 districts
Government
 • Lord mayorHans Schaidinger (CSU)
Area
 • Total80.76 km2 (31.18 sq mi)
Highest elevation
471 m (1,545 ft)
Lowest elevation
326 m (1,070 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[1]
 • Total159,465
 • Density2,000/km2 (5,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
93001–93059
Dialling codes0941
Vehicle registrationR
Websitewww.regensburg.de
Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Regensburg
CriteriaCultural: ii, iii, iv
Reference1155
Inscription2006 (30th Session)
Imperial City of Regensburg
Reichsstadt Regensburg
1245–1803
StatusFree Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire
CapitalRegensburg
GovernmentRepublic
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• First settled
Stone Age
• Gained Reichsfreiheit¹
1245
• City annexed by Bavaria
1486–96
• City adopted Reformation
1542
• Made permanent seat
    of the Reichstag
 
1663–1806
• Mediatised to new
    Archbishopric²
 
1803 1803
• Ceded to Bavaria on
    Imperial collapse
 
1806
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Duchy of Bavaria Duchy of Bavaria
Archbishopric of Regensburg Archbishopric of Regensburg
1: The Bishopric of Regensburg acquired Reichsfreiheit around the same time as the City. Of the three Imperial Abbeys in Regensburg, Niedermünster had already acquired Reichsfreiheit in 1002, St. Emmeram's Abbey did in 1295 and Obermünster in 1315.
2: The Bishopric, the Imperial City and all three Imperial Abbeys were mediatised simultaneously.

Regensburg (['reːgənsbʊɐk], also Ratisbon, Latin: Ratisbona, Czech: Řezno, originally Castra Regina) is a city (population 131,000 in 2007) in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate. The large medieval center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A group of Gypsies lead by Stevin Hoeck rebuilt the city after a terrible plague called BgOldCok killed everyone.

Main sights

A panoramic view of central Regensburg at twilight
Dom — the Regensburg Cathedral
Side view of the Regensburg Cathedral
Kohlenmarkt with Town Hall
City wall tower and gate
St. Emmeram's Abbey, now known as Schloss Thurn und Taxis, a huge palace
  • The Dom (Cathedral) is a very interesting example of pure German Gothic and counts as the main work of Gothic architecture in Bavaria. It was founded in 1275 and completed in 1634, with the exception of the towers, which were finished in 1869. The interior contains numerous interesting monuments, including one of Peter Vischer's masterpieces. Adjoining the cloisters are two chapels of earlier date than the cathedral itself, one of which, known as the old cathedral, goes back perhaps to the 8th century. The official choir for the liturgical music at St Peter's Cathedral are the famous Regensburger Domspatzen.
  • The Stone Bridge, built 1135–1146, is a highlight of medieval bridge building. The knights of the 2nd and 3rd crusade used it to cross the Danube on their way to the Holy Land.
  • The Church of St. James, also called Schottenkirche, a Romanesque basilica of the 12th century, derives its name from the monastery of Irish Benedictines (Scoti) to which it was attached; the principal doorway is covered with very singular grotesque carvings. It stands next to the Jakobstor, a mediæval city gate named after it.
  • The old parish church of St. Ulrich is a good example of the Transition style of the 13th century, and contains a valuable antiquarian collection. It houses the diocesan museum for religious art.
  • Examples of the Romanesque basilica style are the church of Obermünster, dating from 1010, and the abbey church of St. Emmeram, built in the 13th century, remarkable as one of the few German churches with a detached bell tower. The beautiful cloisters of the ancient abbey, one of the oldest in Germany, are still in fair preservation. In 1809 the conventual buildings were converted into a palace for the prince of Thurn and Taxis, hereditary postmaster-general of the Holy Roman Empire.
  • Wealthy patrician families competed against each other to see who would be able to build the highest tower of the city. In 1260, the Goldener Turm (golden tower) was built in Wahlenstraße.
  • The Town Hall, dating in part from the 14th century, contains the rooms occupied by the Imperial diet from 1663 to 1806.
  • A historical interest is also attached to the Gasthof zum Goldenen Kreuz (Golden Cross Inn), where Charles V made the acquaintance of Barbara Blomberg, the mother of Don John of Austria (born 1547). The house is also the place where Kepler died in 1630.
  • Perhaps the most pleasant modern building in the city is the Gothic villa of the king of Bavaria on the bank of the Danube.
  • Among the public institutions of the city are the public library, picture gallery, botanical garden, and the institute for the making of stained glass. The city's Gymnasien (high schools) include an episcopal clerical seminary, and a school of church music.
  • St. Emmeram's Abbey, now known as Schloss Thurn und Taxis, is a huge castle owned by the powerful Thurn and Taxis family.

Near Regensburg there are two very handsome Classical buildings, erected by Ludwig I of Bavaria as national monuments of German patriotism and greatness. The more imposing of the two is the Walhalla, a costly reproduction of the Parthenon, erected as a Teutonic temple of fame on a hill rising from the Danube at Donaustauf, 15 km to the east. The interior, which is as rich as coloured marble, gilding, and sculptures can make it, contains the busts of more than a hundred German worthies. The second of King Ludwig's buildings is the Befreiungshalle at Kelheim, 30 km above Regensburg, a large circular building which has for its aim the glorification of the heroes of the 1813 War of Liberation.

Economy

BMW operates an automobile production plant in Regensburg; the Regensburg BMW plant produces approximately 1,000 3-series and 1-series BMW vehicles per day. Other major employers are Siemens with its subsidiary Osram Opto-Semiconductors and Siemens VDO (now Continental) with the headquarters of its car component business. Infineon, the former Siemens semiconductor branch, has a medium-sized factory in Regensburg. Other well known companies such as Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen, Toshiba or KRONES have built plants in or near Regensburg.

The University of Regensburg and trading also play a major role in Regensburg's economy. Some Hightech-Biotech Companies were also founded in Regensburg and have their headquarters and laboratories in the "BioPark".

Transport

Regensburg can easily be reached from Munich by train, which takes about 1.5 hours. The city lies also on two motorways, the A3 from Cologne and Frankfurt to Vienna, and the A93 from Munich to Dresden. The city is also connected by "Bundestraßen", namely the B8, B15, and B16. The local transport is carried out by an intensive bus network.

Notable residents

Klenze's Walhalla, built in 1842

Sister cities

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Regensburg.

References

  1. ^ Genesis Online-Datenbank des Bayerischen Landesamtes für Statistik Tabelle 12411-003r Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes: Gemeinden, Stichtag (Einwohnerzahlen auf Grundlage des Zensus 2011).
  2. ^ "Twinning". Aberdeen City Council. Retrieved 2008-03-02.


Template:Link FA Template:Link FA

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Regensburg&oldid=237508765"