The weekly market on Saturdays on the Donaumarkt was a permanent fixture in Regensburg for many decades before it had to give way in 2012.
Now the market is returning to the square on the Danube.
Regensburg - for decades it was an institution: the weekly market, every Saturday morning on the Donaumarkt in Regensburg*.
The fallow land on the Danube was created by demolitions in the 1960s and 1970s - at that time the city of Regensburg wanted to build a four-lane bridge here along with a "city motorway".
The centuries-old quarter on the Danube stood in the way.
The residents were robbed of their houses by the city administration with the threat of expropriation at a bargain price and demolished a little later.
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Weekly market at the Donaumarkt: a long tradition
But the grandiose traffic plans and the dream of a car-friendly old town failed due to resistance from the people of Regensburg, as did later attempts by the city leaders to build a culture and congress center here.
And so all that was left was a tarred, unattractive open space - a parking lot, at least six days a week.
But every Saturday traders, vegetable farmers, butchers and bakers met here to sell their goods.
It has been ten years since this market event last took place in late summer 2012.
In the end it had to make way for the start of construction for the "Museum of Bavarian History" and move to the Kornmarkt near the cathedral*.
Earlier there was talk of an interim solution.
But there was no return to the Danube market.
From March: Market activity on the Danube again
But now there will soon be a market happening again on the Donaumarkt.
From March 18th there will be a weekly market, every Friday and – this is new – exclusively organic.
With market stalls from farmers and bakers from the Upper Palatinate, with organic street food to nibble on site and also with a cultural program.
This is thanks to Daniel Frost from Regensburg – and the Corona lockdown.
"I had time to develop what was initially a vague idea and make it concrete," says the 50-year-old.
He visited organic farmers, telephoned potential stand operators and took care of the necessary permits.
In the city of Regensburg* Frost fell on open ears.
The city and district are a state-approved model region, and Regensburg also bears the title "Biostadt".
The organic Danube market: "A meeting point for shopping, chatting and munching."
Frost has many years of gastronomic experience, including at the former Regensburg cult restaurant "Orkan", and knows how important good ingredients are and what they can cost.
He was able to convince up to 25 providers of his plan.
They are intended to provide a shopping and taste experience on the museum forecourt all year round, every Friday from 2 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
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A weekly market also takes place regularly at the Kornmarkt.
© Peter Schickert/imago images
Frost's idea: "This is supposed to be a meeting place.
For shopping, chatting and nibbling.
A market of the kind that has long been customary in this form in Southern and Eastern Europe.” He doesn't see the whole thing as competition to the Saturday market on the grain market, which will continue to exist.
"The city center of Regensburg is big enough for two markets."
Organic Danube Market: The mayor is also enthusiastic
Not only is Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer (SPD) expected at the opening on March 18, her brother Christoph Maltz will also be there and provide entertainment with his Larifari Punch and Judy show.
There will also be music and other cultural programs.
According to Daniel Frost, the latter should not remain a flash in the pan.
"So that the market simply becomes an overall experience for everyone."
*Merkur.de/bayern is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA