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Your voyage today takes you down the final stretch of the fascinating Main–Danube-Canal to Kelheim, and then along the Danube River to Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities and home to the oldest bridge to cross the Danube. On our guided walking tour you’ll have the chance to see one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. Wander through the city and have a look at the Old Town Hall, or perhaps book an excursion to Weltenburg Abbey. Back aboard the Emerald Star enjoy the evening with a traditional Bavarian Band.
Discover More: Local brauhaus excursion (extra expense)
Well we did do the final stretch of the canal overnight and as we woke we were in the last of the canal locks – but quite a change to be going down in the lock instead of up ! Our first stop was the little town of Kelheim where some of us offloaded to do the local brauhaus tour whilst the others stayed with the boat as it went on to Regensburg where we would meet it later.
Leaving our dock at Kelheim for the brewery tour
Greg, Steve and I joined about 20 others on the tour. Adrienne was going to come however was again feeling the effects of her cold and decided to have another quiet morning. The brewery we visited was called the Kuchlbauer Brewery in Abensberg – just your average little village. The brewery itself is “mid-sized” in term of Bavarian breweries and has been around in some form since 1300. The current ownership is moving into the 9th generation of the family. An interesting extra to the brewery is the “Kuchlbauer Tower” – an observation tower designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser on the grounds. The owner was a big fan of his work – a bit Gaudi, a bit Dali – and finally persuaded the artist – who was living a bit of a “hippy” life in New Zealand at the time – to build his tower. The designs have also been incorporated throughout the brewery.
Some of the unusual art / architecture at Kuchlbauer Brewery
At the end of the tour, after the obligatory sample (or 3 !) of the brew we bussed back to the meet up with the boat in Regensberg for lunch.
There was a walking tour after lunch, however we had our own “home grown” guides ! Jo and Steve’s son Daniel had studied in Regensberg so they were almost “locals”. They guided us around the major landmarks for a couple of hours and we ended with a sample of the local sausage specialty (and a beer ?) at the historic Wurstkuche near the old bridge. Regensberg is one city which has managed to avoid any major damage so it really is an “old” city. There are even small sections of Roman ruins about the town.
Our Regensberg tour give, Steve, getting lots of questions (heckling?) from the group?
The Old Bridge – well the bit without the scaffolding anyway !
The amazing contrast in church architecture
Just before we set sale again, we had a Bavarian band entertain us in the lounge before dinner. For dinner, we were back to our old table and our waiters were very glad to see us back ! ? During dinner we passed a monument known as Walhalla – a monument that honours laudable and distinguished Germans – in the neo-classical style – a bit like the Pathenon.
Our Bavarian concert
Walhalla
We also had another lovely sunset over the Danube as we sailed on. After dinner was just a quiet affair with resident DJ Reno providing a great selection of music as the evening passed us by.
Another gorgeous sunset on the river
Tomorrow it is Passau as we get close to the end of our German part of the trip
Today’s “Tour Trivia” – After World War II, Regensburg was the site of the largest “Displaced Persons” camp in Germany – so big it had its own postal service !