Another German city with a wealth of history, Augsburg was founded by the Romans back in 15BC. From 1276 it operated as a Free Imperial City until 1803. Built on a legacy of caring and wealthy merchants, Augsburg has many highlights just waiting to be discovered.
With (at least) 5 Things To Do – Discover Augsburg is easy.
1. Fuggerei
The world’s oldest community and social housing project, the Fuggerei still operates today. The legacy of Jakob Fugger, a visionary of the time, the Fuggeri tells the story of how one person can have a large and lasting impact on society.
2. Rathaus & Goldener Saal
Augsburg’s rathaus is an impressive structure in the heart of Augsburg’s Alt Stadt. Elias Holl built this remarkable City Hall between 1615 and 1620. Today the Rathaus remains one of the city’s most significant landmarks. It is also one of the most notable Renaissance building north of the Alps. Inside the Goldener Saal (Golden Hall), the famous ceiling is fully restored to its pre WWII glittering glory. It is famous for its glowing coffered ceiling, mural paintings and grand portraits.
3. Augsburg Cathedral
The Romanesque and Gothic St. Mary’s Cathedral boasts the oldest stained glass windows in the world. Other intriguing highlights include four Hans Holbein the Elder panels, paintings, impressive frescos and a Romanesque crypt. The Roman walls on the Cathedral’s Square and a wonder through the picturesque Frankhof (park) at the back of the Cathedral are almost as worthy of admiration as the towering structure and its interiors.
4. Mozart’s House
Leopold Mozart’s House at the very northern end of the old town’s Frauentorstraße, is well worth the visit. A charming museum cum exhibition, it highlights the life of Mozart’s genius father who was eventually outshone by his most famous son, Wolfgang Armadaeus Mozart. However, he was a composer, musician, teacher and ‘man of the world’ before and in addition to being responsible for the development of one of the world’s most admired musical artists.
5. Maximillian Museum
Two patrician Renaissance design palaces now house the Maximillian Museum. The city’s first municipal museum, established in 1855, integrates the palaces of these notable Augsburg merchant dynasties. It is named after the Bavarian King Maximilian II.
The main building houses the Augsburg art collections and the museum offers a unique wealth of outstanding works. These include notable pieces of goldsmithing, late Renaissance bronze art, scientific instruments, clocks and automatons, historical models, city history and decorative arts objects. They all come from the time of the imperial city, when Augsburg was the art metropolis of Germany.
The house received the Bavarian Museum Prize in 2007.
Good To Know
Just an hour by train from Munich, Augsburg is a much overlooked city. It is not a well known international tourist destination. This makes it an ideal under-the-radar getaway. This is a chance to discover authentic Germany in one of the less crowded destinations.
As a bonus highlight, check out the Rotes Tors. Augsburg’s ancient city gate houses a waterworks that still supplies Augsburg’s city fountains. It does to 1416. The infrastructure for this includes three water towers, two well inspector houses and an aqueduct. The architecture is unique throughout Europe and the waterworks are an engineering feat of medieval times.
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Would I Return?
Yes.