Haidplatz (Haid Square), Regensburg
Haid Square, is one of Regensburg鈥檚 most atmospheric landmarks鈥攁 place where centuries of civic pride, trade, and legend still echo across the cobblestones. Its name, derived from the Old German word 鈥淗aid鈥� meaning 鈥渉eath,鈥� recalls its origins as an open field before it became the bustling heart of medieval Regensburg. By the Middle Ages, the square had grown into a lively stage for public life, where markets, jousting tournaments, and royal processions captured the city鈥檚 rising importance within the Holy Roman Empire.
The most famous building on the square is the Golden Cross House, a 13th-century patrician residence once graced by Emperor Charles V. During his visits in the 1530s and 1540s, the emperor held court in its grand rooms鈥攂ut according to local legend, his stay was not all politics. It鈥檚 said that here he met Barbara Blomberg, a young woman from Regensburg, who later bore him an illegitimate son鈥擠on John of Austria, the naval commander who would go on to defeat the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Lepanto. Whether truth or folklore, the story gives the square a touch of royal scandal that still lingers in the city鈥檚 collective memory.
Nearby, the old weighing house and the 17th-century Justice Fountain remind visitors of Regensburg鈥檚 mercantile past, when traders and travelers filled the plaza with color and chatter. Today, Haidplatz remains a lively meeting point鈥攊ts caf茅s, markets, and seasonal festivals continuing the rhythm of community life much as they did hundreds of years ago.
The most famous building on the square is the Golden Cross House, a 13th-century patrician residence once graced by Emperor Charles V. During his visits in the 1530s and 1540s, the emperor held court in its grand rooms鈥攂ut according to local legend, his stay was not all politics. It鈥檚 said that here he met Barbara Blomberg, a young woman from Regensburg, who later bore him an illegitimate son鈥擠on John of Austria, the naval commander who would go on to defeat the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Lepanto. Whether truth or folklore, the story gives the square a touch of royal scandal that still lingers in the city鈥檚 collective memory.
Nearby, the old weighing house and the 17th-century Justice Fountain remind visitors of Regensburg鈥檚 mercantile past, when traders and travelers filled the plaza with color and chatter. Today, Haidplatz remains a lively meeting point鈥攊ts caf茅s, markets, and seasonal festivals continuing the rhythm of community life much as they did hundreds of years ago.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Regensburg. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Haidplatz (Haid Square) on Map
Sight Name: Haidplatz (Haid Square)
Sight Location: Regensburg, Germany (See walking tours in Regensburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Regensburg, Germany (See walking tours in Regensburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Regensburg, Germany
Create Your Own Walk in Regensburg
Creating your own self-guided walk in Regensburg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Regensburg Introduction Walking Tour
During a battle in 1809, Napoleon remarked that Regensburg was 鈥渨orth a crown.鈥�
The name 鈥淩egensburg鈥� reflects its roots: it comes from the River Regen, which joins the Danube here, and the Old High German word burg, meaning fortress鈥攕o Regensburg means 鈥渢he fortress by the Regen.鈥�
Long before the Romans, Celtic tribes had already settled on the high ground, taking advantage of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
The name 鈥淩egensburg鈥� reflects its roots: it comes from the River Regen, which joins the Danube here, and the Old High German word burg, meaning fortress鈥攕o Regensburg means 鈥渢he fortress by the Regen.鈥�
Long before the Romans, Celtic tribes had already settled on the high ground, taking advantage of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Roman Ruins Walking Tour
Meandering through the Old Town of Regensburg, it鈥檚 easy to forget that some 1800 years ago most of this area was occupied by a Roman fortress. Although the first settlement here dates from as early as the Stone Age, it is the Romans who put it firmly on the map.
Around 90 AD, they first built an expeditionary and then a permanent military camp called Castra Regina ("Fortress by the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Around 90 AD, they first built an expeditionary and then a permanent military camp called Castra Regina ("Fortress by the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles