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Regensburg’s Old Town (Altstadt) is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Germany and among the largest in Europe — a dense weave of narrow lanes, hidden courtyards and tall stone tower-houses on the north bank of the Danube. Largely spared the destruction of the Second World War, it preserves nearly two thousand years of history in a remarkably intact townscape: founded as the Roman fort of Castra Regina in AD 179, it grew into a wealthy free imperial city and one of medieval Europe’s great trading centres. In recognition of this extraordinary continuity, the Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006. With around 1,500 listed buildings, it is often called the northernmost of the Italian cities, a nod to the Mediterranean flavour its merchant families brought home from trade across the Alps.

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The city’s emblem is the Stone Bridge (Steinerne Brücke), a masterpiece of medieval engineering completed in 1146 that for some 800 years was the only fixed crossing of the Danube between Ulm and Vienna and served as the model for Prague’s Charles Bridge. From its arches opens the classic view of a skyline crowned by Regensburg Cathedral (Dom St. Peter), the finest Gothic church in Bavaria, begun around 1275 and celebrated for its medieval stained glass and its boys’ choir, the Domspatzen. Deep in the tangle of lanes stands the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), seat of the Perpetual Imperial Diet from 1663 to 1806, whose ornate Imperial Hall and historic dungeons can be seen on a guided tour. Look up to spot the tall patrician tower-houses, such as the Golden Tower, raised by wealthy families to flaunt their status, and seek out the Porta Praetoria, a gateway of the Roman legionary fortress and one of the most important Roman monuments north of the Alps. Beside the bridge, the tiny Historic Sausage Kitchen (Historische Wurstküchl) has been grilling sausages for travellers for centuries.

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The Old Town lies about a 10-minute walk north of Regensburg Hauptbahnhof, which has fast rail links to Munich and Nuremberg. Local buses run from the station towards the Altstadt, but the historic centre is compact and almost entirely pedestrianised, so it is best explored on foot. Strolling the streets, crossing the Stone Bridge and visiting the cathedral are free; guided tours of the Old Town Hall’s Imperial Hall and dungeons are ticketed, and the Danube can also be enjoyed on short boat cruises from the quays near the bridge. As a lively university city, Regensburg has no shortage of cafés and beer gardens tucked into its courtyards; the centre is at its busiest in summer and during the Christmas markets, so mornings are usually the most peaceful time to wander.