Old Stone Bridge, Regensburg (must see)
The Old Stone Bridge stands as one of Europe鈥檚 greatest medieval engineering triumphs and one of Bavaria鈥檚 proudest symbols. Completed around 1146 after only eleven years of construction, it was built to connect Regensburg鈥檚 bustling Old Town with the districts across the Danube. For more than 800 years, it was the city鈥檚 only bridge鈥攁 vital artery that helped transform Regensburg into one of the most prosperous trading centres of the Holy Roman Empire. Merchants, pilgrims, and even crusaders once crossed its sturdy limestone arches on their way to distant lands, their footsteps shaping the history that still lingers in its cobblestones.
Like many medieval marvels, the bridge carries its own legend. Locals still tell the story of the master builder who, desperate to complete his bridge before his rival finished Regensburg鈥檚 cathedral, made a pact with the Devil. In exchange for supernatural help, he promised the first three souls to cross the completed bridge. When the day came, the cunning builder sent across a rooster, a hen, and a dog instead. Enraged at being tricked, the Devil tried to destroy the bridge, bending one of its arches鈥攂ut it held firm. That slight curve remains today, a silent reminder of human ingenuity triumphing over dark bargains.
Over the centuries, the Stone Bridge has endured floods, wars, and the march of time, yet it remains an emblem of Regensburg鈥檚 resilience and craftsmanship. Now reserved for pedestrians, it offers breathtaking views of the Danube and the city鈥檚 skyline crowned by the cathedral鈥檚 spires. Standing here, one can almost hear the echoes of traders haggling, soldiers marching, and legends whispering through the centuries鈥攁 bridge not just between riverbanks, but between eras.
Like many medieval marvels, the bridge carries its own legend. Locals still tell the story of the master builder who, desperate to complete his bridge before his rival finished Regensburg鈥檚 cathedral, made a pact with the Devil. In exchange for supernatural help, he promised the first three souls to cross the completed bridge. When the day came, the cunning builder sent across a rooster, a hen, and a dog instead. Enraged at being tricked, the Devil tried to destroy the bridge, bending one of its arches鈥攂ut it held firm. That slight curve remains today, a silent reminder of human ingenuity triumphing over dark bargains.
Over the centuries, the Stone Bridge has endured floods, wars, and the march of time, yet it remains an emblem of Regensburg鈥檚 resilience and craftsmanship. Now reserved for pedestrians, it offers breathtaking views of the Danube and the city鈥檚 skyline crowned by the cathedral鈥檚 spires. Standing here, one can almost hear the echoes of traders haggling, soldiers marching, and legends whispering through the centuries鈥攁 bridge not just between riverbanks, but between eras.
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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Old Stone Bridge on Map
Sight Name: Old Stone Bridge
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.
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
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