The second oldest city in Germany and the oldest in Bavaria
was founded and named after the Roman emperor Caesar
Augustus in the year 15 B.C.
The richness of its great cathedral, spectacular churches,
mansions, elegant fountains and handsome palaces is
primarily thanks to the Augsburg trading family who started
its prosperous career in the 15th century. At the time their
success made Augsburg one of the world's most powerful
cities. The heyday of the Fuggers’ dominance over Europe’s
politics and economics lasted more than a century until it
came to an end in 1648. The city prospered again after the
Thirty Years War, this time thanks to its goldsmiths,
silversmiths and printers.
In the late 18th century Augsburg became Southern Germany’s
most artistic capital of rococo.
Particularly worth seeing in Augsburg is:
The Schaezler Palais, a true highlight of rococo
architecture and a treasure of art collections.
The great seven-storey Renaissance Town Hall and indeed the
whole market square in front of it, especially when it comes
alive during the Christmas Market.
The Fuggerei is a walled enclave within the city of
Augsburg,
it was built in
1516
as a place where needy citizens of Augsburg could be housed.
St. Mary's Cathedral which was built between the 9th
and 14th century in a
Romanesque and Gothic
style. |
Munich
40 mins.
