Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Augsburg
0821 / POP 264,700
The largest city on the Romantic Road (and Bavaria's third largest), Augsburg is also one
of Germany's oldest, founded by the stepchildren of Roman emperor Augustus over 2000
years ago. As an independent city state from the 13th century, it was also one of its
wealthiest, free to raise its own taxes, with public coffers bulging from the proceeds of the
textile trade. Banking families such as the Fuggers and the Welsers even bankrolled entire
countries and helped out the odd skint monarch. However, from the 16th century, religious
strife and economic decline plagued the city. Augsburg finally joined the Kingdom of
Bavaria in 1806.
Shaped by Romans, medieval artisans, bankers, traders and, more recently, industry and
technology, this attractive city of spires and cobbles is an easy day trip from Munich or an
engaging stop on the Romantic Road, though one with a grittier, less quaint atmosphere
than others along the route.
Sights
Fuggerei
(
www.fugger.de
;
Jakober Strasse; adult/concession €4/3; 8am-8pm Apr-Sep, 9am-6pm
Oct-Mar)
The legacy of Jakob Fugger 'The Rich' lives on at Augsburg's Catholic welfare
settlement, the Fuggerei, which is the oldest of its kind in existence.
Around 200 people live here today and their rent remains frozen at 1 Rhenish guilder
(now €0.88)
per year,
plus utilities and three daily prayers. Residents wave to you as you
wander through the car-free lanes of this gated community flanked by its 52 pin-neat
houses (containing 140 apartments) and little gardens.
To see how residents lived before running water and central heating, one of the apart-
ments now houses the
Fuggereimuseum
, while there's a modern apartment open for pub-
lic viewing at Ochsengasse 51. Interpretive panels are in German but you can ask for an
information leaflet in English or download it from the website before you arrive.
HISTORIC SITE
Rathausplatz
The heart of Augsburg's Altstadt, this large, pedestrianised square is anchored by the
Augustusbrunnen
, a fountain honouring the Roman emperor; its four figures represent
the Lech River and the Wertach, Singold and Brunnenbach brooks.
SQUARE
