Built around 1300 the Neue Waag stands before you. This imposing structure wasn’t always a courthouse. It began as a patrician house belonging to the powerful Gumprecht family. Their mark remains. Notice the two-bay St Christophorus chapel on the ground floor of the tower. A Gothic masterpiece it houses the stone city mouse a quirky detail.
The Neue Waag’s history is full of surprises. The building boasts a stunning courtyard. Note the two-story Renaissance arcades. These were added much later. The year 1573 is inscribed above a window lintel a testament to this impressive renovation.
After the Gumprecht family the Hofmeister and Altmann families owned the Neue Waag. In 1441 the city of Regensburg bought the entire complex. Why? They needed a new city weigh house a place to weigh goods. That’s where its name comes from. The building also became a “Herrentrinkstube”. This was a drinking room for city council members. Imagine their relaxing after long meetings. The Neue Waag hosted lavish receptions celebrations and even weddings.
In 1541 the Neue Waag played an unexpected role. It became the location for the Regensburg Religious Colloquy. Kaiser Karl V hoped to bridge the religious divide between Catholics and Protestants. Johannes Eck and Philipp Melanchthon two leading theologians debated here. Their attempts unfortunately failed to fully reconcile the two sides.
The Neue Waag’s transformation continued. The building underwent major renovations between 1440 and 1587. The courtyard was redesigned in Renaissance style in 1575 significantly enhancing its beauty. After the Thirty Years’ War it housed a temporary writing office. Later this became a permanent “Reichsdiktaturstube”. Here Reichstag protocols were written.
Finally in 1782 a Neoclassical addition appeared. The two-story Napoleonic Hall was created. It housed the Imperial City Library from 1784 to 1875. Thousands of volumes from the city’s libraries the Evangelical Ministerial Library and the Gymnasium Poeticum were kept here.
The Neue Waag survived the Second World War. Although parts of the south wing were damaged they were later restored. Today the building is the seat of the administrative court. This impressive structure thus stands not only as an architectural marvel but also as a witness to Regensburg’s rich past. It continues to serve the city. A history truly worth savoring.