Regensburg – a city for European dialogue
The medievally-influenced, largely intact experience of the surviving old-town organism is considered unique, at least in Germany.
But there is another kind of tradition which is possibly even more important and more unique, and its long-lasting influence on local structures can still be seen today: Regensburg as Europe's city of dialogue, of political negotiations, where emperors, kings and princes came together, the residence of diplomats and ambassadors, the city of imperial parliaments. Precisely this tradition of dialogue has left traces in the city we see today.
To this day, the Old Town Hall presents the almost-untouched physical location where the Empire's permanent parliament worked for nearly 150 years. In the streets and squares, you can still recognise embassies, courts and residences where once the imperial parliament's business representatives lived and met together.
If you look out for details, you can also discover evidence in Regensburg of early European society and political networks. In the early Middle Ages, Regensburg was the capital of old Bavaria. The ruling dukes held court here, meted justice, and negotiated political business. Nobles, high churchmen, and ambassadors of foreign rulers came to Regensburg. Just before the year 800, under Charles the Great, Regensburg became a city of kings and emperors. Famed medieval rulers like Charles the Great, Henry II, Henry IV, Frederick I Barbarossa and many more came to visit Regensburg. They invited important subjects to come and negotiate with them, to prepare for wars, to make peace or arrange marriages - all the political action of the day. These meetings began to be known as "Reichstage" - Imperial Days, and the word came later to mean Parliament.
The emperors' residences remain to this day. The "Golden Cross" was much favoured, especially by Emperor Charles V, who stayed in Regensburg several times. His famed affair of 1546 with Barbara Blomberg, the daughter of a Regensburg tradesman, resulted in the birth of an illegitimate child who grew up to conquer the Turks - Don Juan d'Austria. In the time of Charles V, many political issues were discussed in parliament meetings, and another question was added: which faith is correct? So it wasn't just politicians meeting in Regensburg, but also theologians. The Conference of Regensburg took place in 1541 in the New Weighing House at Haidplatz, and it was the most significant attempt to bridge the deepening gap between Catholics and Protestants.
During this time, the parliament meetings in Regensburg were held more and more often, becoming longer and longer. The Emperors of the time resided in Vienna, making Regensburg's location especially favourable. The city was considered experienced in conflict resolution, since Catholics and Protestants, a bishop prince and a councillor of the Free Imperial City lived together in close contact. This dialogue on the local level was an ideal preparation for the dialogue of the parliament meetings with their significance for all of Europe.
Finally, in 1663 the parliament met in Regensburg and never left again. Continual parliament meetings were held until the 1806 collapse of the Empire that required them. The ambassadors settled permanently in Regensburg, living a luxurious lifestyle. They created an atmosphere that was international, cosmopolitan, open-minded and tolerant. At their head was the Emperor's ambassador, the "Principal Commissioner" in the person of the Prince of Thurn and Taxis.
In the rooms of the permanent parliament in the Old Town Hall, political decisions were made at the "green table" or "assigned to the back bench". Over the course of time, Regensburg developed an established political culture of dialogues including everyone in Germany who had something to say. There were always ambassadors and diplomats from other countries present, too. The parliament was an institution perhaps comparable to today's UNO general assembly.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Regensburg's role in European dialogue came to an abrupt end. In 1806, Emperor Francis II gave up the emperor's crown in Vienna, and the parliament dissolved. The ambassadors and diplomats vanished, taking with them all the grandeur, variety and exclusivity they had brought with them. For a while, Regensburg disappeared from the scene of European history.
Today, Regensburg has taken up intercultural dialogue once more and is stretching contacts to its European neighbours. Regensburg is in constant contact with its European partner cities. The university’s centre for east-west relations, the "Europaeum", actively supports scientific dialogue between European nations in the east and west of the Continent. "Donumenta" is an event held to encourage European interaction: each year, symposia, concerts and workshops present the art and culture scene of one of the countries along the Danube. Interaction with other World Heritage cities on both national and international levels is to be increased in the future.