Regensburg is an impressive city with a rich historical and cultural heritage. Its picturesque streets, which exude a Mediterranean atmosphere, along with its numerous castles, patrician towers, and historic townhouses, have made Regensburg an internationally coveted tourist destination in recent years. The city also offers an excellent quality of life.
The foundation of the city goes back to the roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who built the legionary fort Castra Regina in 179 AD. The massive Porta Praetoria, the former gateway of the castle, remains a significant relic from this era. During the Middle Ages, Regensburg flourished as a wealthy trading city, reaching its peak economic importance in the 12th and 13th centuries due to its trade relations with Italy, Russia, Bohemia, and Byzantium. Notable constructions from this period include St. Peter's Cathedral, a prime example of Gothic art in Bavaria, and the Steinerne Brücke, the oldest surviving bridge in Germany.
Bavaria is one of Germany's most powerful and attractive federal states, and Regensburg has a particularly dynamic and prosperous economy. A strong indicator of the high quality of life is the city’s exceptionally low unemployment rate, with experts often referring to it as full employment. Thanks to international companies such as Siemens, Continental, BMW and Osram, which established their headquarters and production location in Regensburg, the city offers over 142,000 jobs.
Regensburg is also an academic hub, hosting three universities: the University of Regensburg, the Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule, and the College of Catholic Church Music and Music Education. Additionally, the city is home to a university clinic. With over 33,000 students, Regensburg has become an increasingly attractive student city. It also offers the highest gastronomic density in Germany, with more than 500 bars, restaurants, and cafes in the inner city.
The City of Regensburg maintains friendly and enriching relationships with its eight sister cities. For example, the twinning between Clermont-Ferrand (France) and Regensburg was sealed on May 12, 1969, by Mayor Gabriel Montpied and Mayor Rudolf Schlichtinger. Since then, successful collaborations have been established in the fields of culture, youth, education, sports, economy, science, and more.
