Regensburg, Germany was added to the World Heritage List back in August.
Criterion (ii): The architecture of Regensburg represents the city’s role as a medieval trading centre and its influence in the region north of the Alps. Regensburg was an important transition point on continental trade routes to Italy, Bohemia, Russia and Byzantium. It also had multiple connections with the transcontinental Silk Roads. As such, the city exhibits an important interchange of cultural and architectural influences, which have shaped its urban landscape.
Criterion (iii): The Old Town of Regensburg bears an exceptional testimony to cultural traditions especially in the Holy Roman Empire, being the location for most of the assemblies of the Empire in the High Middle Ages. Regensburg also significantly contributed to more recent European history being the seat of the Perpetual Assembly from the 1663 to 1806. As a testimony to these functions, there are the remains of two imperial palatine palaces from the 9th century, and a large number of other well preserved historic buildings, which are testimony to the wealth and political importance of the community.
Criterion (iv): The Old Town of Regensburg is an outstanding example of a central-European medieval trading town, which has well preserved its historical stratigraphy, and which is an exceptional illustration to the development of commerce particularly from the 11th to 14th centuries.
If you could spend just a day or two in Germany, Regensburg is the place I would tell you to go. The Altstadt is one of the larger pedestrian zones in Western Europe, expanded a few blocks since I lived there, and contains an absurd number of historic sites. Everything you would want to see or do is within easy walking distance. The city has been virtually unknown to tourists so summertime crowds are pretty minimal. The town has a major university so you can expect that most young persons are able to speak English, some better than you. Night life is excellent.
Best times to visit would be during the Dults in mid-to-late May (Maidult) and late-August to early-September (Herbstdult). The Kristkindlmarkt in December is excellent if you don’t mind being out in the cold.
