Augsburg is one of Germany’s oldest cities having been founded by the Romans under the Emperor Augustus in 15 B.C., whose name was used for the original settlement of Augusta Vindelicorum. This military camp stood at the confluence of the Alpine Rivers Lech and Wertach, a prime location as it gave direct access to the most important Alpine passes and allowed for expansion and trade with the northern areas of Europe. This settlement later became the capital of the Roman Province of Raetia and the intersection of many important European trade routes which were used throughout the medieval period. Today this city of almost 2,000 years is one of southern Germany’s major tourist destinations, home to a wealth of art and architectural attractions and is the largest town on the beautiful and historic ‘Romantic Road’. This road follows the old medieval trade route from the northern areas to the south with Augsburg being the gateway to the Alps. Augsburg remains the administrative and economic centre of the Bavarian district of Swabia, a major industrial centre and home to over 260,000 residents making it Bavaria’s third largest city and lies just 70 kilometres north-west of Munich.
The city reached its peak during the 15th and 16th centuries under the business and banking activities of the Fugger and Welser families. This subsequent prosperity led to Augsburg being one of Germany’s wealthiest communities and today home to several historical attractions from that period. Major attractions in the city include the famous Fuggerei, a walled enclave within the city of 16th century houses built by Jacob Fugger for the less fortunate within the community, making this the oldest social housing in the world. The enclave still exits and the rental remains as it was over 480 years ago, one Rhenish Guilder, which is approximately one Euro, per year, plus three daily prayers!!
Within the Fuggerei is the modest St Mark’s Church and at Mittlere Gasse 13 is the Fuggereimuseum which features an exhibition about the Fugger family history and displays the 16th and 17th century furniture, wood-paneled ceilings and walls and a cast iron stove, much as it could have been in earlier times. To the east of the Fuggerei is Jakobsplatz where you can find the oldest fountain in Augsburg, the Neptune Fountain. At the end of the Jakoberstrasse is the 15th century St James Gate which guards the moat of this historic part of the city. Standing to the north of the gate is the picturesque Funfgratturm or Five Pinnacle Tower, and the St James Water Tower beyond which can be seen the Oblatter Wall, a defensive system dating from 1540.
Dominating the northern part of the Old Town is the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, founded in the 9th century and is famous for having the oldest stained glass windows in the world!! The church contains frescoes from the Romanesque and Gothic periods, beautifully painted vaults and 4 panels painted by Hans Holbein the Elder. In front of the Cathedral are the remains of the foundation of the 10th century, St John’s Church, and archaeological remains of a Roman wall. These belong to the Diocesan Museum which also displays the Cathedral Treasury, ecclesiastical works of art and the original bronze door of the Cathedral, the oldest work of art in the museum. Adjacent to the Cathedral is the Bishop’s residence built in 1750 and which retains the original medieval tower of the previous house, today the building houses the Schwabian Regional Administration. At the southern end of Maximilianstrasse can be found the 15th century Basilica of St Ulrich and St Afra, considered one of the most attractive ecclesiastical compounds in Augsburg. Built to commemorate the 1555 ‘Peace of Augsburg’ between the Catholics and the Protestants, these two joined churches are one of the last major late-Gothic church buildings in Schwabia.
One of the other main sights of Augsburg is the old Town Hall or Rathaus, built in 1620 in the Renaissance style. Considered to be the most significant secular Renaissance building north of the Alps, the building is well known for its ‘Golden Hall’ with its imposing portals, gold-leaf coffered ceilings and huge wall frescoes. Standing adjacent to the Rathaus is the 12th century Perlach Tower, Augsburg’s most recognisable symbol. Standing 70 metres high, this beautiful bell tower houses a carillon and is topped by an observation area and its ornate onion dome. From this tower commanding views over the city can be enjoyed.
There are several more places of interest including the Schaezler Palace, considered to be the most impressive Rococo building in Augsburg and is today part of the Municipal Museum and Art Collections. It is said that on April 28, 1770, Marie Antoinette danced the night away in the gilded and mirrored ballroom of the Palace!! The Schwabian Craftsmen’s Museum which houses a unique collection of exhibits pertaining to 40 craftsmen, and displays their historical development - the Natural History Museum and Planetarium - the Maximilian Museum which is part of the Munical Museum and Art Collections and houses a collection of items pertaining to Augsburg’s cultural heritage – Mozart’s House, and Brecht House, a literary museum and research centre for Bertolt Brecht born in Augsburg in 1898. One last place of interest is the Augsburger Puppenkiste, the famous marionette theatre and its adjacent marionette museum, the ‘Die Kiste’.
Augsburg is also the birthplace of Hans Holbein the Elder, painter and above all father of Hans Holbein the Younger, painter.
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