Tourist News: Regensburg in October

The Hightlights in October surely is the donumenta-festival. The donumenta – not to be confused with the 5 year show documenta in Kassel – presents a different Danube country each year, since 2003: In 2008 Croatia will be Regensburg’s guest.  We will also give you
some insights into Regensburg’s culture scene. Enjoy!

Guided City Tours
Guided City Tours through the narrow, medieval streets of Regensburg can give you a more vivid picture of our city and make you understand interrelations of the century old history of Regensburg. Official guided tours are offered in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, Catalan, Russian, Hungarian, Polish and Ukrainian.
Each group tour limited to 25 people, costs 88 Euros for the small guided tour (duration 1,5 h). The 4 hour tour costs 135 Euros, for 6 hours you have to pay 165 Euros and a whole day’s tour is available for groups at a price of 210 Euros. Place your individual bookings at Tel. +49-941 507 4410, Fax. +49 941 5074419, Email: tourismus@regensburg.de

City Tours accompanied by acting performances are a popular must see in Regensburg, among many tourists. Discover the medieval streets and lanes of the city with historically costumed actors in the guided tours of the Stadtmaus. This company specializes in medieval events and extraordinary city tours. For example, experience the dark sides of our World Heritage City in the adventurous tour: Dark shadows of Regensburg: Beggars, Jugglers, Executioners and Whores. Or explore the city with Regensburg’s night sentry which will drop you back into the time of 1636. We very much want to recommend to you a guided tour of the world’s oldest monastery brewery, Kloster Weltenburg, it is located on a beautiful island in the Danube. You can book this tour at: www.stadtmaus.de

A Trip to the Countryside
Excursions to the surrounding forests of Regensburg are always a pleasure. Why not get the most out of it and combine your trip with visiting some cultural highlights.
The Freedom Hall in Kehlheim was erected by King Ludwig I. of Bavaria 1813-1815 in memory of the victory over Napoleon. It was constructed after the model of a Byzantine mausoleum and is certainly worth climbing up to the top due to its impressive and valuable interior. Inside, thirty four victory goddesses cut from Carrara Marble reach out their hands to each other for a ceremonial round dance. They hold 17 gold plated shields which were cast from the melted bronze of the war’s canonry.
Why not take a convenient and relaxed trip to Kelheim by ship? Information on departure times and prices are available at www.schifffahrtklinger.de.

If you travel west on the Danube you reach Donaustauf in less than half an hour. There on the boundaries of the Bavarian Forest, thrones the Walhalla, which was also erected by King Ludwig I. The monument is a scaled copy of the Pantheon on Athen’s Acropolis. Inside you can find intellectual giants of German speaking countries which have been given a place for eternity. A row of intricate, sculptured heads are presented, starting with the German King Henry I. and ending with Sophie Scholl (member of the White Rose a resistance group in World War II). A cozy walk below colorful autumn trees leads you to the medieval castle ruins in Donaustauf with it’s impressive remaining walls. This visit guarantees you a romantic afternoon if the autumn weather is pleasant.

Museums and Galleries
Fantastic and rare art treasures are usually preserved by Regensburg’s many church museums. The Diocesan Museum of St. Ulrich, for example, has valuable sacral items, sculptures and paintings exhibited in its former church, which by the way, shows impressive renaissance frescos in it’s interior.
Or, take an educational journey back in time, and join a guided tour in the cathedral and the cathedral’s cloister with its All Hallow’s- and St. Stephen’s Chapel. Book your ticket in the house at Domplatz Plaza No 5.
Our culture tip for you: ome highly renowned pieces of art are currently shown by the Art Forum East German Gallery. Memory and Vision is the topic of an exhibition which shows top class samples of the institution’s collection. Fifteen theme rooms displaying German Art in East Europe during the times of Romanticism and the present are now open with exciting compositions.
The theme rooms are assigned to different epochs in art history (Secession Art, Expressionism, Informel Art); different art genres (Scenery, Portrait and History) and extraordinary artist personalities. The exhibition offers you a museum space which incites your attention, concentration and compression of thoughts. Poetry and quotations underline the exhibition and are presented in an extraordinary colorful setting with a clear informational system.

Theater
Opera, theater, concerts: The first important German national opera of the Romantic era was Der Freischütz of Carl Maria von Weber and celebrated its break through in London during that time. Now it is a performance highlight in Regensburg’s culture autumn.
Friends of the Italian opera however, might enjoy Puccini’s, Man Lescaut in this autumn’s program. And those who would rather like to see an operetta will probably look forward to Franz Lehars, Land des Lächelns, which will have its premiere this month on the 30th. The Three Pennies Opera of the author couple Brecht/Weill will also be shown in the Veledrom. This theatre was formerly a cycling racing hall and after years of decay, it was perfectly renovated into an enticing theatre hall. Information on all performances at: www.theaterregensburg.de.

25.09.08 - online redaktion