Postcard: Medieval Madness

A lot of the cities we visited on our recent river cruise had elements of medieval history scattered throughout. But two cities in particular captured the imagination in that regard.

Regensburg, Germany

Fun Facts: Home to Germany’s oldest bridge and world’s oldest sausage kitchen (12^th century), as well as the world’s oldest golf ball and club (1525).

Site of the historical sausage kitchen. Apparently Regensburg and Nuremberg
have had an ongoing battle about their sausages. I've had both,
and I have to say I like the Regensburg wurst better.

Lovely David and Goliath mural
on the side of a building
in downtown Regensburg

Feelings: Our time in Regensburg was like a picture of ancient Germany come to life. First we had a guided tour with a city native, wandering through courtyards that led to alleys that led to narrow streets, all filled with old homes and local shops.

Then we attended a cuckoo clock demonstration and learned about the construction and history of the clocks and the figures decorating them. 

The evening ended with a concert from a local Shanty Choir, who sang sea-faring songs in English, German, and French.

Rothenburg, Germany

Fun Facts: Following a defeat in the Thirty Years’ War, and further decline during the Black Death in 1634, the city was left without money or power—a major factor in preserving its 17^th-century appearance. 

Rothenburg is also home to the Schneeball (snowball), a ball of deep-fried dough covered in confectioner’s sugar or chocolate.

Feelings: Hands down, Rothenburg was my favorite city. Of the whole trip. It’s like it was tailor-made for me: beautiful architecture in a walled, walkable town, delicious lunch in a moody restaurant with armor hanging from the stone walls, a Christmas Museum, a Medieval Crime & Punishment Museum—what more could a girl want??

The Medieval Crime and Punishment Museum
was a four-floor journey through
instruments of torture, descriptions of offenses,
discipline, law, religion, and superstition
in the Middle Ages 

The Christmas Museum included the origins/locales and history
of  different types of ornaments, depictions of St. Nicholas and
Santa Claus, elaborate tree stands, and Weihnachtspyramiden.