Regensburg

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#FFDEAD" align="right"\n! Coat of Arms\n! Map\n|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"\n| align="center" | \n| align="center" | \n|-----\n|} Regensburg (English formerly Ratisbon, French Ratisbonne, Latin Ratisbona, Czech Řezno) is a city (population 146,824 in 2002) in Bavaria, south-east 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.

Table of contents

1 History 2 Buildings 3 Partner Cities 4 External links

History

The first settlements in Regensburg date to the Stone Ages. The Celtic name Radasbona was the oldest name given to a settlement near the present city. Around AD 90 the Romans built a small "cohort-fort" in what would now be the suburbs. In 179 the Roman fort Castra Regina ("fortress by the river Regen") was built for the Third Italic Legion during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It was an important camp on what was then the northern fringe of the empire. It is believed that even in late Roman times it was the seat of a bishop, and St. Boniface re-established a bishopric there in 739. From about 530 to the first half of the 13th century, it was the capital of Bavaria. Throughout the early Middle Ages, Regensburg was the cultural center of southern Germany and was celebrated for gold work and fabrics. In 1245, it became a Imperial Free City and was a trade center before the shifting of trade routes in the late Middle Ages. It adopted the Reformation and its Town Council remained entirely Lutheran until the incorporation of the city into Bavaria. Nonetheless, the majority of the population soon became (or remained?) Catholic. This was helped by the continued existence of the Cathedral and a couple of abbeys, as well as immigration from the largely Catholic surrounding districts. From 1663 to 1806, it was the permanent seat of the Reichstag (Imperial Diet) of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1809, the city was partially destroyed by the French under Napoleon, with the Holy Roman Empire dissolving in the process. A year later Napoleon formed the Kingdom of Bavaria, with Regensburg becoming a part of it. Between April 19 and April 23, 1809 Regensburg was the scene of the Battle of Ratisbon between forces commanded by Baron de Coutaud (the 65th Ligne) and retreating Austrian forces. It was eventually overrun after supplies and ammunition ran out.

Buildings

The cathedral, though small, is a very interesting example of pure\nGerman Gothic. It was founded in 1275, and completed in 1634, with the\nexception of the towers, which were finished in 1869. The interior\ncontains numerous interesting monuments, including one of Peter Vischers\nmasterpieces. Adjoining the cloisters are two chapels of earlier date\nthan the cathedral itself, one of which, known as the old cathedral,\ngoes back perhaps to the 8th century. The church of St James also called\nSchottenkirche a plain Romanesque basilica of the 12th century, derives\nits name from the monastery of Irish Benedictines (Scoti) to which it\nwas attached; the principal doorway is covered with very singular\ngrotesque carvings. The old parish church of St Ulrich is a good example\nof the Transition style of the 13th century, and contains a valuable\nantiquarian collection. Examples of the Romanesque basilica style are\nthe church of Obermünster, dating from 1010, and the abbey church of St\nEmmeran, built in the 13th century, and remarkable as one of the few\nGerman churches with a detached belfry. The beautiful cloisters of the\nancient abbey, one of the oldest in Germany, are still in fair\npreservation. In 1809 the conventual buildings were converted into a\npalace for the prince of Thurn and Taxis, hereditary postmaster-general\nof the Holy Roman Empire. The town hall, dating in part from the 14th\ncentury, contains the rooms occupied by the imperial diet from 1663 to\n1806. An historical interest also attaches to the Gasthof zum Goldenen\nKreuz (Golden Cross Inn), where Charles V. made the acquaintance of\nBarbara Blomberg, the mother of Don John of Austria (born 1547). The house\nis also shown where Kepler died in 1630. Perhaps the most pleasing\nmodern building in the city is the Gothic villa of the king of Bavaria\non the bank of the Danube. At Kumpfmühl, in the immediate neighbourhood\nof the city, was discovered, in 1885, the remains of a Roman camp with\nan arched gateway; the latter, known as the Porta Praetoria, was cleared\nin 1887. Among the public institutions of the city should be mentioned\nthe public library, picture gallery, botanical garden, and the institute\nfor the making of stained glass. The educational establishments include\ntwo gymnasia, an episcopal clerical seminary, a seminary for boys and a\nschool of church music. Among the chief manufactures are iron and steel\nwares, pottery, parquet flooring, tobacco, and lead\npencils. Boat-building is also prosecuted, and a brisk transit trade is\ncarried on in salt, grain and timber. Near Regensburg are two very handsome classical buildings, erected by\nLouis I. of Bavaria as national monuments of German patriotism and\ngreatness. The more imposing of the two is the Walhalla, a costly\nreproduction of the Parthenon, erected as a Teutonic temple of fame on a\nhill rising from the Danube at Donaustauf, 6 miles to the east. The\ninterior, which is as rich as coloured marbles, gilding, and sculptures\ncan make it, contains the busts of more than a hundred German\nworthies. The second of King Louis' buildings is the Befreiungshalle at\nKelheim, 14 miles above Regensburg, a large circular building which has for\nits aim the glorification of the heroes of the 1813 War of Liberation.

Partner Cities

• Aberdeen, Scotland (United Kingdom), since 1955\n* Brixen (Bressanone), (Italy), since 1969\n* Clermont-Ferrand (France), since 1969\n* Pilsen (Czech Republic), since 1993\n* Tempe, Arizona (USA), since 1981\n* Odessa (Ukraine), since 1990

[This entry is partly based on an article from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.]

External links

\n*City web site (in German with international pages)\n*University web site \n\n Category:Cities in Germany