HYDERABAD: Since I love riverside towns, I knew I would love Regensburg, even before I visited it.  Situated at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen Rivers, in Bavaria, Germany, the town of emperors and kings, offers impressive perspectives of around 2,000 years of history. Regensburg’s urban structures reflect centuries of architectural continuity and contain Roman, Romanesque and Gothic elements and has the UNESCO World Heritage tag.

Meeting Mathias, my guide, I walked to the iconic Stone Bridge. Presently under renovation, it was once regarded the eighth wonder of the world and is Germany’s oldest arched stone bridge (12 century). It’s 500-year-old historical tavern Wurstkuchl – Sausage Kitchen is the oldest sausage kitchen in the world. The 900-year-old building is notable for its role in catering for the workers who built the Stone Bridge. And even today the kitchen serves 6,000 sausages to guests daily. There are the finest handmade fine-fried sausages with sauerkraut and mustard that you can have.

As we reached St. Peter’s Cathedral, the best known landmark of Regensburg, I was wonderstruck at its magnificence – impressive front, grand interiors and wealth of medieval stained glass. The only Gothic cathedral in Bavaria, the world’s largest hanging organ accompanies the boys’ choir Cathedral Sparrows during the mass.

Thurn and Taxis Palace is another popular tourist spot. Originally a monastery, in the mid-18 century the princes of Thurn and Taxis, turned it into a magnificent castle residence. The palace is a must-see and is said to have more rooms than Buckingham Palace in London.

A visit to the Snuff Factory Museum took me back to the stories where comic characters came out with wisecracks after a sniff. Prosperity and prestige always went together with snuff-tobacco-manufacturing, especially in France and Italy, where these factories were owned by rich men. At the Bernard Snuff Factory three rooms were retained in their original state along with the equipment. The alchemist’s kitchen was situated in the old chapel (13 century) of the building. The recipes were mixed and also new sorts were created here. Here I got to sniff at some interesting flavours of snuff, like mint and chocolate.

As we went touring around the old town, Mathias explained that wealthy Regensburg people had huge houses with towers and vast courtyards. These were considered status symbols. It was originally an Italian fashion which the merchants who travelled to other countries copied. Chinese silk, Indian spices, Russian furs etc., were sold in Regensburg markets.

The river cruise in a crystal boat decorated with Swarovski Crystals was certainly a fitting finale to my trip.

AT A GLANCE

Get there: Fly Lufthansa directly from Mumbai or Delhi to Munich. Travel by road to Regensburg.

Stay: Best Western Premier in Regensburg is close to all tourist spots.

Eat Drink: Visit the pub breweries and enjoy the most famous Bavarian beers. Dine at the Spitalgarten to eat fresh fish from the pond.

Must: BMW 3- series cars are built exclusively in Regensburg. A guided tour in the plant is  recommended.