Discovering the World’s Oldest Restaurant | Regensburg, Germany
| The World’s Oldest Restaurant, A Pipe Organ, and a Medieval Stone Bridge |
On our Viking River Cruise to Budapest, we made a stop in Regensburg, Germany. Located in Bavaria, this city of approximately 150,000 residents has a rich history dating back to Roman times. The city boasts the oldest restaurant in the world, which once served Roman soldiers (more about this later in the post!)
We were only able to spend an afternoon in this city and take in a few of the sites. If we were travelling on our own, we would have loved to have spent more time here as there are quite a few things to see and do and we mainly stayed in the Altstadt (Old Town) section.
Exploring the Altstadt (Old Town)
Regensburg’s Altstadt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its exceptionally well-preserved medieval architecture. The narrow cobblestone streets are lined with colorful historic buildings, beautiful Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque structures.
Our first stop of the afternoon was to St. Peter’s Cathedral or the Regensburger Dom. The Cathedral is home to a pipe organ which is considered one of the finest pipe organs in the world. While there, we were fortunate to hear an organ concert. The majestic sounds from the 6,899 pipes was moving and truly awe-inspiring! The music, coupled with the Boroque-style design and exquisite carvings is a must-see for anyone interested in music and cultural heritage.
After our tour of St. Peter’s Cathedral, we had some free time to wander and explore. We decided to check out the old Stone Bridge. The 12th-century Stone Bridge is 310m long, has 16 arches, and spans the Danube River. It is the oldest preserved medieval bridge in Germany and offers some nice views of the city.
We took a walk across and discovered a brewery near the north end of the bridge. Here was took a break and devoured some beer and pretzels at the brewery. Spitalbrauerei Regensburg was the perfect spot to have a cool drink, sit in the shaded beer garden and take in the views of the Altstadt. Be sure to check out their website and the history of the brewery. It belonged to the hospital and they have been brewing beer since 1271!
Visiting the Oldest Known Restaurant in the World
After our beer and pretzel, we wandered back to the Aldstadt and looked in some shops. We had one final stop to make before we headed back to the boat, Historische Wurstküche (historic sausage kitchen). This sausage kitchen, Wurstkuchl, has been operating next to the Stone Bridge since 1146 and offers tavern and outdoor seating. It originally was a construction office for the Stone Bridge, but eventually became a food stall for the dock and construction workers.
Because we had just eaten, we didn’t try any of the sausage, but we did buy some Wurstkuchl mustard to take back home with us and it did not disappoint! Although they do not ship their products to the US or Canada, they can be purchased at: https://mygermancandy.com/
Wurstkuchl is a must-visit for food lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone looking to experience the rich heritage of Regensburg. Keep in mind that due to its popularity and limited seating, the restaurant can get busy, especially during peak tourist seasons, so it’s best to plan ahead and arrive early to get a seat at this historic eatery. After our mustard purchase, we had to head back to the Viking Riverboat to begin the next leg of our journey.
Would we go back to Regensburg again? Yes we would! With its rich history, architecture, and cultural charm, is a destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a history buff, an architecture enthusiast, or simply looking to soak in the atmosphere of a charming Bavarian city, Regensburg should definitely be on your travel list.
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Q&A
How far is Regensburg from Munich? It is about 125 km northeast of Munich and is accessible by car or trail.
MAP OF AREA
Spitalgarten | St. Katharrinen-Platz 1, Regensburg, Germany
Wurstkuchl | Thundorferstasse 3, Regensburg, Germany
St. Peter’s Cathedral | Domplatz 1, Regensburg, Germany
Regensburg Hauptbahnhof | Ostengasse 3, Regensburg, Germany
