Augsburg has more bridges than Venice and in addition numerous splendid wells. Water, winding alleys and idyllic places give the old town a Mediterranean flair. Furthermore this Bavarian town has an important history with magnificent buildings and personalities.

There is probably nobody who has not yet heard of the Fugger family. The Fugger family is a Swabian mercantile dynasty established in 1367 in Augsburg. One of the sons, Jakob Fugger, was between 1495 and 1525 one of the most dominant European merchants and bankers. After they were granted a coat of arms with a lily, this branch of the family was called „Fugger von der Lilie“. In 1521 Fugger created the Fugger buildings for impoverished servants and citizens. Called the Fuggerei, it is the world’s oldest social settlement, consisting of 67 houses, a church, administrative buildings and three gates. Today it is financed by an endowment trust and the annual rent is to the present day only 0.88 Euros (previously a Rhenish guilder). Part of the tenancy agreement is to do daily three prayers in favour of the welfare of the founder's family’s souls. Visitors can see three rooms of the last house that is originally preserved and a currently used flat. The Museum of the Fugger’s documents the history of the Fuggerei and its founding family.

Enjoy a walk through the picturesque old town with the Elias Holl Building, one of the most impressive city halls in Germany. The city hall as an important secular building of the Renaissance has become together with tower Perlachturm the town’s landmark.

Very impressive is the Golden Hall in Augsburg‘s city hall. The gilded splendid ceiling is 14 metres high and was originally decorated with 27 chains on the wooden roof framework. Unfortunately, in 1944 the hall was completely destroyed. After 17 years of restoration it was finally reopened in 1996. Churches in Augsburg testify to the Reformation and respectively Martin Luther’s influence.

In November 2013 Augsburg was awarded most sustainable city in Germany.

More information: http://www.augsburg.de/

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