REGENSBURG (RATisBoN), a city and episcopal see rf Germany, in the Land of Bavaria, and the capital of the Gov ernment district of the Upper Palatinate. Pop. (1933) 81,171. It is situated on the right bank of the Danube, opposite the influx of the Regen, 86 m. by rail N.E. from Munich, and 6o m. S.E. of Niirnberg. The pre-Roman settlement of Radespona was chosen by the Romans, who named it Castra Regina, as the centre of their power on the upper Danube. It afterwards became the seat of the dukes of Bavaria, and was the focus from which Christianity spread over southern Germany. St. Emmeran founded an abbey here in the middle of the 7th century, and St. Boniface established the bishopric about 1 oo years later. Regens burg acquired the freedom of the empire in the 13th century, and was for a time the most flourishing city in southern Germany. It became the chief seat of the trade with India and the Levant, and the boatmen of Regensburg are frequently heard of as expediting the journeys of the crusaders. Numerous imperial diets were held here in the middle ages, and, after 1663, it became the regular place of meeting of that body. The Reformation found only tem porary acceptance at Regensburg, and was met by a counter reformation inspired by the Jesuits. Before this period the city had almost wholly lost its commercial importance owing to the changes in the great highways of trade. Regensburg is said to have suffered in all no fewer than 17 sieges. In 1810 the town and bishopric were ceded to Bavaria. In 1809 the French reduced a great part of the city to ashes.
Across the river is Stadt-am-Hof, connected with Regensburg by a stone bridge of the 12th century. One of the most charac
teristic features in its architecture is the number of strong loop holed towers attached to the more ancient dwellings.
The cathedral, though small, is a very interesting example of pure German Gothic. It was founded in 1275, and completed in 1634, with the exception of the towers, which were finished in 1869. Adjoining the cloisters are two chapels of earlier date than the cathedral itself, one of which, known as the "old cathe dral," goes back perhaps to the 8th century. The church of St. James—also called Schottenkirche—a plain Romanesque basilica of the 12th century, derives its name from the monastery of Irish Benedictines ("Scoti") to which it was attached. The old parish church of St. Ulrich is a good example of the Transition style of the 13th century. Examples of the Romanesque basilica style are the church of Obermiinster, dating from IoIo, and the abbey church of St. Emmeran, built in the 13th century, and remark able as one of the few German churches with a detached belfry. The cloisters of the ancient abbey, one of the oldest in Germany, are still in fair preservation. In 1809 the conventual buildings were converted into a palace for the prince of Thurn and Taxis. The town hall, dating in part from the 14th century, contains the rooms occupied by the imperial diet from 1663 to 1806. Among the chief manufactures are pottery, parquet flooring, musical instruments, furniture, sugar, chemicals, tobacco and lead pencils.