Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), Regensburg

The Old Town Hall is far more than an administrative relic—it’s a stage where centuries of empire, politics, and human stories unfolded. Rising above Rathausplatz with its ochre façade, the building dates back to the 13th century and once symbolized Regensburg’s independence as a Free Imperial City. Behind its walls, decisions that shaped the Holy Roman Empire were made, for this was no ordinary town hall. From 1663 to 1806, it served as the permanent seat of the Imperial Diet, turning Regensburg into the empire’s political nerve center.

Step into the Imperial Hall, and you can almost hear the echoes of diplomats and princes arguing beneath the carved ceiling, trying to hold a crumbling empire together. It was here, legend says, that Emperor Charles V, known for his temper, once broke a quill in frustration during a heated debate—proof that even rulers grew weary of endless talk. The emperor’s symbolic throne still dominates the hall, its presence reminding visitors of the weight of authority once wielded here.

Below, the tone changes dramatically. In the cold, stone dungeons, prisoners awaited judgment—some accused of treason, others of witchcraft. The instruments of interrogation that remain are unsettling but speak powerfully of the justice system of the past.

Today, the Old Town Hall stands as a living museum, its rooms and corridors bridging grandeur and grim reality. Visitors leave with a sense that Regensburg’s story—like the empire it once governed—is one of power, endurance, and humanity intertwined.