Simon Bradshaw (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
major_clanger) wrote2011-10-06 08:25 pm
major_clanger) wrote2011-10-06 08:25 pm
Bavarian Road Trip - Day 2, Regensburg
Our last instalment had us setting of in the Beast from Munich with the GPS programmed to take us to Regensburg. Seduced by the snazzy head-up display of route information and speedometer, we cruised up the autobahn... until ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
darth_hamster became a little concerned.
"Didn't that junction back there have a turn for Regensburg?"
Hmm, GPS says carry on heading north. But there's a service station coming up, so we pull off and I check the main satnav screen. Then I look at the map. Then I swear a bit. The satnav seems to think that there are two Regensburgs, with one being a tiny village somewhere up near Numerburg. I admit defeat and put in the postcode of our hotel, and we're soon off in the right direction.
As we headed away from Munich (fairly flat) the countryside got more rolling. Something we noticed was that almost every field seemed to have a small wooden watchtower in it, like a little tree-house on stilts. Fire watch? Ubiquitous bird-watchers?
Regensburg itself is amazing; one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Germany. Imagine all the oldest and most impressive bits of Oxford and Edinburgh rolled together and given a Bavarian flavour, and you have some idea of why it's such a popular attraction.
The Dom, or cathedral. Our hotel was just round behind the yellow building to the left.
The old Town Hall, once seat of the regional parliament. It had a pair of massive metal-panelled doors with amazing textures and hints of colour.
Indeed, I found myself playing around with Photoshop for some artier versions (quadtone and colour-enhanced, for the geeky):
More painted-on architecture - those aren't real quoins!
Some of the painting is much more spectacular though, as with this mural on, yes, Goliathstrasse. We were to see much, much more of this as we got futher into rural Bavaria.
The Danube, with the city's famous medieval stone bridge in the background.
...and looking back the other way. This was taken from atop the bridge; note that the Danube is far wider than you think, as what looks like the north bank to the left is actually a long island in the mid-river.
Full set of photos here.
After a beautiful sunny afternoon and early evening exploring the old town we retired to our hotel for dinner in the beer garden. About half way though we got to test the table canopy, as the heavens opened (it worked). Hmm, Day 3 was meant to involve a scenic drive into the Bavarian Forest. I was beginning to think that fate might have been kind to us after all in swapping a sports car for a luxury APC.
darth_hamster became a little concerned."Didn't that junction back there have a turn for Regensburg?"
Hmm, GPS says carry on heading north. But there's a service station coming up, so we pull off and I check the main satnav screen. Then I look at the map. Then I swear a bit. The satnav seems to think that there are two Regensburgs, with one being a tiny village somewhere up near Numerburg. I admit defeat and put in the postcode of our hotel, and we're soon off in the right direction.
As we headed away from Munich (fairly flat) the countryside got more rolling. Something we noticed was that almost every field seemed to have a small wooden watchtower in it, like a little tree-house on stilts. Fire watch? Ubiquitous bird-watchers?
Regensburg itself is amazing; one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Germany. Imagine all the oldest and most impressive bits of Oxford and Edinburgh rolled together and given a Bavarian flavour, and you have some idea of why it's such a popular attraction.
The Dom, or cathedral. Our hotel was just round behind the yellow building to the left.
The old Town Hall, once seat of the regional parliament. It had a pair of massive metal-panelled doors with amazing textures and hints of colour.
Indeed, I found myself playing around with Photoshop for some artier versions (quadtone and colour-enhanced, for the geeky):
More painted-on architecture - those aren't real quoins!
Some of the painting is much more spectacular though, as with this mural on, yes, Goliathstrasse. We were to see much, much more of this as we got futher into rural Bavaria.
The Danube, with the city's famous medieval stone bridge in the background.
...and looking back the other way. This was taken from atop the bridge; note that the Danube is far wider than you think, as what looks like the north bank to the left is actually a long island in the mid-river.
Full set of photos here.
After a beautiful sunny afternoon and early evening exploring the old town we retired to our hotel for dinner in the beer garden. About half way though we got to test the table canopy, as the heavens opened (it worked). Hmm, Day 3 was meant to involve a scenic drive into the Bavarian Forest. I was beginning to think that fate might have been kind to us after all in swapping a sports car for a luxury APC.
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