Goldenes Kreuz, Medieval patrician tower at Haidplatz, Regensburg, Germany
Goldenes Kreuz is a medieval town house on Haidplatz in Regensburg, rising several floors and topped by a steep gabled roof with crenellations. A three-story wing was added to the side, making it a building that combines two distinct construction phases into one continuous facade.
The building dates from the period when Regensburg was one of the most active trading cities in the German-speaking world. In the early 16th century, the owners expanded the house and added family coats of arms that marked the growing power of local merchant dynasties.
The name of the house comes from a relic of the cross that was once kept inside the building. Owning such a relic in a private residence was a way for wealthy merchants to display both devotion and social standing.
The building now operates as a small hotel and can be seen from the outside at any time, as it stands directly on Haidplatz, one of the main squares in the old town. The facade with its coats of arms is easy to spot and the square is within walking distance of most other sights in the area.
Inside the building there is a chapel dedicated to Saint Leonard, built into the private living quarters of the house. Private chapels integrated into merchant residences are rare survivals from medieval urban architecture.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
