Regensburg

Since 1945 Regensburg is the only intact larger sized medieval city in Germany, which, from the middle-ages till this day, has been able to function as an urban mechanism without interruption. Regensburg's Old Town has been able to preserve - as can be clearly seen from today's ground plan - its original basic outline since the 14th century. The inter-relationship of public buildings, private residences, workshops and the imposing grounds of the churches, monasteries and religious foundations all contribute towards creating an authentic picture of medieval urban culture and architecture - a constellation destroyed and lost forever elsewhere in Germany. The many conserved patrician palaces and large town house complexes with their imposing towers are outstanding examples for a style of architecture - influenced by Italy - which can be found nowhere else north of the Alps. Being a unique example of a central-European medieval trading town and bearing an exceptional testimony to the cultural traditions especially in the Holy Roman Empire, the well-preserved ensemble of the "Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof" has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2006. The ensemble is about 183 hectares in size and includes 984 monuments. Out of 147.270 inhabitants (as of 31.12.2008) approximately 17.100 people live in Regensburg's historic city centre.