Wahlenstraße & Bachgasse
May we present: two medieval alleys, typical for Regensburg: Wahlenstraße and Bachgasse.
Wahlenstraße
Wahlenstraße is considered the oldest named street in Regensburg. Just around the corner, Regensburg's city hall was built in the middle of the 13th century. The good location to the center of the city and not far from the Danube and the coal market certainly contributed to the fact that wealthy citizens built large patrician houses here. The Deggingerhaus is one of the most elaborate houses in the street and housed the privileged class of the population - among them merchants who were richer than many an imperial and royal family.
The "Golden Tower" is another highlight of Wahlen Street. It is a so-called family tower, which dates back to the second half of the 13th century. The rich patrician families built these towers in the Middle Ages as a status symbol. The more important the family was, the higher the tower was built. More than 60 of these towers once existed in the city. Many of them are still preserved. The impressive courtyard is open and can be visited at any time. You can get to the courtyard both from Wahlenstraße and from Untere Bachgasse. It is worth it.
Untere and Obere Bachgasse
Untere Bachgasse runs parallel to Wahlenstraße and leads into the medieval Gesandtenstraße. The name "Untere Bachgasse" is derived from the Vitusbach stream, which in the Middle Ages ran through the "Obere and Untere Bachgasse" and through the city moat and was important for the water supply of the old town. Today the brook runs underground. The Vitus Brook not only influenced the spatial arrangement of the Old Town and the course of streets, but was also important for the simple cleaning of the streets and the town hygiene. In the Middle Ages, waste was thrown into the brook. Street ponds were created, these served as cattle watering places, livestock swamps and for the supply of home gardens. Also the city farmers, who grew vegetables in the east of the old city, could be supplied with water after the construction of the city moat.
