Le Chic En Rose

Once the wonderful lotions and potions we’d found at the local Munich Apotheke started to take effect, we were feeling a bit more like exploring and decided to take the advice of a German acquaintance, who had highly recommended Regensburg as a possible day trip from Munich. By train (we had German Rail Passes) it takes about an hour and a half to get there from Munich. Trains run regularly between the 2 cities and we happened to catch the morning one going to Prague, so had the added interest of travelling in Czech railway carriages. We found them very comfortable – just as well as it takes over 9 hours to get to Prague!

Back in Regensburg – we arrived around lunchtime and although keen to explore as much of the UNESCO listed Altstadt as possible, our thoughts were turning to lunch. Having crossed the pretty public park opposite the main station and wandered through the myriad of charming cobbled streets, we came to the river Danube. Regensburg is actually situated at the confluence of 3 rivers, the Danube, Naab and the Regen, but the one flowing through the vicinity of the Old Town is the Danube. Nestling in a little corner almost underneath but actually adjacent to the old Stone Bridge (Steinerne Bruecke) is the historic Wurstkuchl.

Wurstkuchl Regensburg

Die Historische Wurstkuchl (Historic Sausage Kitchen) of Regensburg is housed in an ancient building about 900 years old. It was originally used as a building office when the old Stone Bridge was being constructed across the Danube between 1135 to 1146. Afterwards the office was turned into a sausage kitchen feeding stonemasons working on the nearby cathedral and also dockers who worked in the port. Back in the Middle Ages the free city of Regensburg was a hugely important cultural and trading centre because of its strategic position on the Danube. You can find out in more detail about the Wurstkuchl’s history on its website here.

Back to the present and Monsieur Le Chic’s face was lighting up at the prospect of an endless selection of Wurst. I am not a great fan of sausages and was somewhat concerned as to what I would eat. However it was cold outside, we were still recovering from the flu and I didn’t want to wander round endlessly looking for somewhere to eat, so I agreed we’d go inside and take a look. I was won over by the cosy ambiance and charming decor – it was so warm and welcoming that I felt it would compensate for any sausages that I might be obliged to eat, (I’m not vegetarian but I don’t eat much red meat or Wurst!).

Interior of the Wurstkuchl Munich

Flowers in the window – watching the Danube flow by the Wurstkuchl

Inside the Wurstkuchl Regensburg

The restaurant as its name suggests, serves homemade pork sausages along with sauerkraut and mustard (made to their own special recipe). Monsieur chose one of their smaller plates….

Wurst from the Wurstkuchl

Fortunately there was a wonderful homemade potato soup on the menu, which with hot crusty rolls was superb – flavoured with herbs and just creamy enough, it fitted the bill perfectly as far as I was concerned!

Creamy potato soup from the Wurstkuchl Regensburg

There is also an extensive seating area outside by the river, which hardier souls than us were favouring or should I say braving? Certainly one’s perceptions of cold varies depending on where you’re from. I checked the weather app on my phone and the temperature was around 14 degrees with a stiff breeze at lunchtime – not dining out weather in my book!

The outside area of the Wurstkuchl

By the entrance to the Wurstkuchl Regensburg

Being right on the Danube the Wurstkuchl will be popular, I would think, with passing tour boats. From the Tripadvisor reviews I read later quite a few of the tours do stop there for lunch, but it wasn’t unpleasantly crowded on the Saturday lunchtime in April when we were there. The staff were polite, friendly and the service highly efficient! Just note that you do have to pay for any bread rolls you eat – they put a basket on the table when you arrive and we assumed they were complimentary until we got the bill (not enough to break the bank though!).
The German word “gemütlich” sums up the Wurstkuchl perfectly! It doesn’t really have a direct English translation but means a cosy atmosphere, warm, welcoming –  somewhere you feel at home. We stepped out of the Wurstkuchl and found ourselves right in front of the fast flowing waters of the River Danube. Off we went to explore more of Regensburg and in particular its medieval Altstadt. More to come – Tschuss till then!

Down by the River Danube Regensburg with the old Stone Bridge in the background

Copyright © 2015 Rosemary Thomas Le Chic En Rose. All rights reserved