Sightseeing in Augsburg

The main sights of Augsburg are in a long, narrow stretch of the Old Town. To the north of the Rathaus are the Dom and Mozarthaus, and to the south most sights are in or near the Maximilianstraße. A walking tour of the sights described here takes around two hours plus time spent inside the attractions.

Augsburg's Northern Old Town Area

The Renaissance Rathaus (Town Hall), on Rathausplatz, replaced its Gothic predecessor in 1614. It is the most important work of Elias Holl and arguably one of the loveliest and most important secular Renaissance buildings in Germany. I t was severely damaged by an air raid in 1944, but rebuilt true to the original. The Goldene Saal (Golden Hall) is one of the most impressive ceremonial rooms north of the Alps.

The Perlachturm (Tower) dates partly from 1060. Its present height of 231 ft was achieved in 1616. For the best views of Augsburg, and on a clear day all the way to the Alps, climb the 258 steps to the viewing platform at the top.

Near the Rathausplatz is the St Annakirche (St Anne’s Church), Anna-Straße. In 1321, a Carmelite monastery built the Gothic church, which was enlarged in the 15th century. Martin Luther stayed in the monastery during his 1518 visit to Augsburg. The church is famous for the Fuggerkapelle (Fugger Funeral Chapel), the first religious Italian Renaissance structure erected on German soil. It cost more than the Fuggerei (see below). Most of the church received a Rococo makeover in the 18th century. However, the 15th-century Goldschmiedekapelle (Goldsmiths’ Chapel), used as Lutheran a church, still has its original Gothic layout and wall paintings. It also has paintings by Lucas Cranach.

The playwright Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) was born in what is now the Gedenkstätte für Bertolt Brecht (Memorial), at Auf dem Rain 7. He spent his youth in Augsburg until moving to Munich in 1917 and during the Nazi period to Scandinavia and the USA, before settling in East Berlin.

In 1516, Jakob Fugger the Rich donated the Fuggerei as home for the poor. It is the oldest social housing project in the world that is still in use. Even now, Augsburgers, who become poor and destitute through no fault of their own, can find accommodation here. The annual rent is still a symbolic Rhenish guilder (i0.88! )and three daily prayers for the founder. The 104 homes currently house around 150 people. The building is a city inside a city, with eight streets and four access gates that are locked at 10 pm. Residents arriving late are fined 25-50 cents. The small Fuggereimuseum, Mitelgasse 13, is in an original house in the Fuggerei. It explains the history of the institution and is furnished in the style of the 17th and 18th century. (From the Rathaus follow Barfüßer and Jakoberstraße east and turn right into Herrengasse.)

The Dom St Maria (Cathedral of St Mary), Domplatz, is mainly 14th-century Gothic, but the core, including the crypt is from the 10th century and Romanesque. The church has wall paintings from the Romanesque and Gothic periods, but the altar by Hans Holbein receives the most attention. Note the five windows of the prophets on the south side of the nave. This 12th-century painted glass is considered the oldest of its kind in Germany.

The musical Mozart family worked in Augsburg from 1643 onwards. Leopold Mozart, father ofWolfgang Amadeus, was born in Augsburg in 1719. His place of birth is now called the Mozarthaus, Frauentorstraße 30, 0821-324-3894, with a museum dedicated to Mozart and his works. Wolfgang Amadeus visited Augsburg five times – both as tourist and as musician. His music is frequently performed at various venues.

Maximilianstraße

Maximilianstraße leads from the Rathaus southward. It is the traditional shopping street, with many fine gabled houses from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

The Fuggerhäuser (Fugger Houses), Maximilianstraße 36-38, are a group of existing buildings that were united behind a Renaissance façade in 1515 to serve as city residence and offices of the Fugger family. The building is mostly in private use, but enter the Damenhof (Ladies’ Courtyard) to see the colonnaded area reserved for the Fugger women.

A block farther is the magnificent Rococo Schaezler-Palais (Palace), at Maximilianstraße 46. It was erected in 1765-70 by the Von Liebenhofens, a wealthy banking family. It has a huge Festsaal (Banqueting Hall) with Rococo ceiling and wall panels. Marie Antoinette attended a ball here en route to getting married in Paris. The palace houses several galleries. The Baroque Gallery has mostly paintings by German artists. The Staatsgalerie Alter Kunst (National Old Masters’ Gallery) has work by local painters, including Holbein and Dürer, as well as works by Van Dyck, Veronese, and Tiepolo.

At the far end of the Maximilianstraße are the Roman Catholic St Ulrich and St Afra, and the Lutheran St Ulrichskirche. The Late Gothic church was built on the site where St Afra was martyred in 304 AD. St Ulrich, whose grave is in the crypt, helped in the victory over the Hungarians in the 10th century. A Baroque preaching hall was added in the early 18th century to serve as a Lutheran church.

The Augsburger Puppenkiste (Marionettes) are among the most famous in the world. Presentations are held on most Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 pm. Their program is available from the tourism office or at www. augsburger-puppenkiste.de. A small museum, Die Kiste (The Box), at Spitalgasse 15, is dedicated to this art form.

The 16th-century Rotes Tor (Red Gate) was remodeled by Elias Holl in the early 17th century. This fortified gate is most popular as a huge open-air stage.