Why are things as they are and not otherwise?
--Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer, mathematician, astrologer, natural philosopher, and writer.=====================================================================
(in the city of Regensburg in Bavaria Land state) In southeast Germany. It lies on the right bank of the Danube River along its most northerly course, where it is joined by the Regen River, about 65 miles (105 km) northeast of Munich. Bavaria is a region in southern Germany known for its rich history, culture, and traditions. Founded by the Romans in 179 AD as Casta Regina (meaning Fortress by the River Regen), Regensburg is one of Germany's oldest towns today. Many flock to see the wonderfully intact Old City and its many medieval structures. The 12th-century Stone Bridge was used by Crusaders en route to the Holy Land. The Regensburg Cathedral (or Dom St. Peter) is one of southern Germany's finest examples of Gothic architecture. The capital of the Oberpfalz region of Bavaria, Regensburg, dates back to Roman times and was the first capital of Bavaria. (Though big on the historical wow factor, today’s Regensburg is a laid-back and unpretentious sort of place, and its tangle of old streets is a joy to wander. The Roman north gate (Porta Praetoria) and parts of the walls survive. The capital of the dukes of Bavaria from 530, Regensburg, was made a bishopric in 739 and shortly afterward became the capital of the Carolingians. The only free imperial city in the duchy of Bavaria from 1245, Regensburg was exceedingly prosperous in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was taken by the Swedes and later by imperial troops in the Thirty Years’ War (17th century) and was destroyed by the French in 1809. (It passed to Bavaria in 1810.)
+ Despite repeated bombings in WWII, Regensburg sustained little damage, and most of the city’s medieval buildings survived. Its imposing patricians’ houses (12th–14th century) are unique in Germany, and the Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge; 1135–46) across the Danube is a medieval constructional marvel that was repaired after the war. The cathedral of St. Peter (1275–1524) is one of the most important Gothic churches in Bavaria, with 14th-century stained-glass windows and two Romanesque chapels in the adjoining cloisters; its Boys’ Choir (Regensburger Domspatzen) is well known. the 13th-century Dominican Church and the Minorite Church (ca. 1250–1350). The buildings of St. Emmeram’s Abbey (founded 7th century) have been the palace of the princes of Thurn and Taxis since 1812, and there are remains of the 13th-century Herzogshof, the residence of the Bavarian dukes.
+ Regensburg also features museums of shipping and natural history. The astronomer Johannes Kepler died here (in 1630)
+ The only free imperial city in the duchy of Bavaria from 1245, Regensburg was exceedingly prosperous in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was taken by the Swedes and later by imperial troops in the Thirty Years’ War (17th century) and was destroyed by the French in 1809. (It passed to Bavaria in 1810.)
(in Transylvania, a historic eastern European region, now in Romania. After forming part of Hungary in the 11th–16th centuries, it was an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire [16th–17th century] and then once again became part of Hungary at the end of the 17th century.) The region was later incorporated into Romania in the first half of the 20th century. The region, whose name first appeared in written documents in the 12th century, covered a territory bounded by the Carpathian Mountains on the north and east, the Transylvanian Alps on the south, and the Bihor Mountains on the west.
+ In addition to its Hungarian and Romanian heritage, Transylvania retains traces of a Saxon (German) cultural tradition dating back to the arrival in the Middle Ages of a population of German speakers. Seven historically Saxon villages that feature well-preserved medieval fortified churches were inscribed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites between 1993 and 1999. The historic center of Sighișoara, also a Saxon settlement, was inscribed in 1999 as well. Ancient forests and long-enduring traditions that have produced a storybook’s worth of legends, Romania is as alluring as you may have heard. Here, you will find magnificent castles and medieval fortresses, with diverse landscapes that range from mountaintops, thermal waters, and lush meadows, to wide beaches and one great delta by the Black Sea.
+ In the last decade, the country has changed exponentially. While Romania remains one of the last European countries where you can find wild living and country life seemingly untouched by modernity (you really will see horse-drawn buggies in small villages), its cities feel utterly contemporary, with wi-fi available at most cafes, a thriving tech scene, specialty coffee, and world-class festivals.
+ Bucharest is the economic epicenter and largest city, where rich cultural scene sets it apart in the country. It is here, as well as in sought-after Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania’s unofficial capital, that the cost of living reaches levels similar to Western Europe. Yet, as soon as you travel into the countryside, you’ll find bargains galore. With a temperate continental climate, Romania’s weather ranges from frigid to sizzling. Winters are colder in the mountains, with temperatures below freezing from December to mid-March, which is why late spring and early autumn might be the best times to visit Romania. April and May bring a slew of festivals and the scent of lilacs and linden blossoms. Late September and October usher in exciting events; the pleasant temperatures and autumn foliage make this the season for leisurely road trips and hiking the golden-hued Carpathian Mountains.