REGENSBURG, ra',Vns-boors, or RATISB0N. A city of Bavaria, Germany, capital of the Upper Palatinate. situated on the Danube opposite the mouth of the Regen, 65 miles northeast of Mu nich (Map: Germany, E 4). It is distinctly medi :eval in appearance, with narrow, crooked streets, and ancient houses, with loopholed towers and coats-of-arms. A stone bridge dating from the twelfth century connects Regensburg with the suburb of Stacltamhof on the opposite bank of the Danube. The cathedral. begun in 1275 and in 1534 with the exception of the towers, is pure German Gothic. It contains many fine monuments and other objects of art. The Rathaus, dating partly from the fifteenth cen tury, is interesting as the seat of the Imperial Diet from 1663 to 1806. Another building of historical interest is the inn Zuni Goldnen Kreuz where Charles V. lodged during the Diet of 1547 and where he met Barbara von Blomberg, the mother of Don .John of Austria. The villa of the King of Bavaria is a magnificent building in the Gothic style, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country. There are a number of seminaries, and schools of religious music, glass paint ing, and agriculture. Interesting collections are owned by the local historical and natural history societies. There are manufactures of paints, porcelain ware and pottery, machinery and other iron and steel products, knit goods and cloth. musical instruments, rifles, spirits, etc. Boat-building and book printing and bind
ing are also industries of importance. Popula tion, in 1900, 45.426, principally Roman Catho lics. Near Regensburg is the German 'Temple of Fame,' called the Walhalla (q.v.).
Regensburg was the Celtic settlement of Rad asbona, called by the Romans Castra Regina. It w•as the residence of the early dukes of Bavaria and became the seat of the bishopric of Regens burg in the eighth century. From the eleventh century to the close of the Middle Ages Regens burg was one of the most important cities of Southern Germany and carried on a flourishing trade with the East. It was early raised to the position of a free Imperial city. As the fre quent residence of the German emperors Regens burg was the scene of many important diets, and became the permanent seat of the Diet in 1663. In the territorial changes following the Treaty of Lun6ville in 1801, it was assigned to Dalberg (q.v.). In IMO it passed to Bavaria. Consult : Gemeiner, Chronik der R'tadt and des Hochstifts Regensburg (Regensburg, 1800-24) ; Gumpelz Geschiehte, Sagen and Merl; wiirdigkeiten (ib., 1830-38) ; Chroniken der deutschen Stlidtc, vol. xv. (Leipzig, ISTS) ; Kfis ser, AU- and Jung-Regensburg (Regensburg, 1895) \Valderdo•ff. Regensburg in seiner Vet- gangenheit and Gegenicart (ib., 1896) ; Fink, Regensburg in seiner Vorzeit and Gegenicart (ib., 1900).