Outsmarting the Devil in Regensburg - The advantages of touring

One of the best parts about travelling on a tour is all the little stories and legends you pick up along the way. You’re not just looking at pretty buildings or snapping photos of bridges — you’re actually hearing the tales that make those places memorable.

On my recent trip through Bavaria with Backroads Touring, I discovered one such gem in the delightful town of Regensburg. Cobblestoned streets, half-timbered houses, canals winding through town — it’s charming enough on its own. But what really caught my imagination was the story of a bridge… and a deal with the devil.

As the story goes, centuries ago the townsfolk needed a bridge built quickly. The builder, a bit desperate, struck a deal with the devil: the devil would help him complete the bridge faster than anyone thought possible. The catch? The devil would claim the soul of the first living creature to cross it.

The devil got to work, stones rising faster than the cathedral going up nearby. Soon the bridge was ready. The devil rubbed his hands together, waiting for some poor villager to take the first step across. But the clever builder had other plans. Instead of sending a person, he shooed a rooster onto the bridge. The devil, tricked and furious, stormed off — but not before claiming his “prize.”

And there you have it: a bridge built by the devil himself, bested by a barnyard animal. Now, that’s a story you don’t get from just wandering around on your own with a map in hand!

That’s why I love touring. You don’t just see things — you get the backstories, the drama, and sometimes the mischief too. Plus, there are some very practical perks:

• Your luggage magically appears at your hotel room door. No dragging bags up staircases or through endless hallways — it’s just there, waiting for you.

• No logistics headaches. Trains, transfers, tickets — all sorted. You just show up and enjoy.

• Hidden gems and local tales. Guides always know the quirky legends and tucked-away corners.

• New friends. Tours attract like-minded travellers who are just as excited to explore (and laugh at a devil being outsmarted by a rooster).

  
  

That bridge in Regensburg may look like any other, but thanks to my tour, I’ll always remember it as the place where the devil lost out to a chicken.