Augsburg, Bavaria’s third-largest city after Munich and Nuremberg, is located north of the Lechfeld, a floodplain that lies along the confluence of the Wertach and Lech rivers. This ancient and famous imperial city, home to the two great medieval merchant dynasties of the Fuggers and the Welsers, is now the most important city of the administrative region of Bavarian Swabia (Bayerisch Swabia). Once connected to Verona by the Via Claudia, an ancient Roman road, Augsburg’s convenient location promoted it as a trading center. The city has a very active cultural life, and the new University of Augsburg opened its doors in 1970. One of the most popular tourist routes in Germany, the Romantic highway – Romantische Strasse – runs from the main valley via Augsburg to Füssen on the Austrian border .
1 Augsburg Cathedral
Augsburg Cathedral, a Roman Catholic structure built in the 11th century with features added in the 14th century, is the city’s top tourist attraction. It is one of Europe’s more unusual cathedrals, largely due to its lack of a true facade, as well as its twin choirs. Notable features are the large bronze door. Dating from the 11th century, the door is now located in the neighboring Diözesan Museum and is famous for its 35 relief panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament. Other highlights include the five windows on the south side of the nave with the oldest figure glass in Germany dating from around 1100, and four of the side altars have altarpieces by Hans Holbein the Elder.
Address: Frauentrostraße 2, D-86152 Augsburg
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2 The Augsburger Rathaus and the Golden Hall
The old town hall or Rathaus is located in the center of Augsburg. Completed in 1624, this massive Renaissance building is also popular for its spectacular interiors and exhibits relating to the city’s rich and fascinating past. Notable rooms include the Lower Fletz with its enormous marble columns and vaulted ceiling, and the beautiful Golden Hall, or Goldener Saal. Widely regarded as one of the most impressive examples of the German Renaissance, this enormous hall with its 14-metre-high, richly decorated ceiling was completed in 1643. It subsequently expanded to the 70-metre-high Perlachturma 10th-century watchtower with impressive views over the city (open from May to October) and the 16th-century Augustus Fountain.
Address: Rathausplatz, 86159 Augsburg
3 Editor’s Pick The Fuggerei
The Fuggerei, a small “town within the city” in Augsburg, is a beautiful area to explore on foot. Through one of the community’s four gates, these picturesque old houses were originally built to house the town’s poorer Catholics. Founded by the Fugger family in 1521, the community consists of 67 buildings, 142 homes and a church and is the oldest social housing scheme in the world. Today’s residents are still only required to pay an annual rent of one Rhenish guilder, the equivalent of €1, along with three daily prayers. In addition to the excellent museum and exhibition space with its original furnishings, visitors also have access to a WWII bunker. Also important Fugger Palacebuilt in 1512 and with charming and attractive courtyards built in Italian Renaissance style (only the courtyards are open to the public).
Address: Jakoberstraße 26, 86152 Augsburg
4 Mozarthaus Augsburg
Mozarthaus, in the historic Fuggerei area of Augsburg, was where Leopold Mozart, the great composer’s father – himself an accomplished musician – was born in 1719. Now a fascinating museum, the attraction offers a glimpse into the life of the Mozart family. Exhibits include engravings, books, letters and original scores, as well as a fine collection of historical musical instruments. English audio tours are available. If you visit in late August to early September, be sure to experience great things Mozart summer, a two-week festival of chamber music performances by Mozart and his contemporaries. Another former “celebrity” residence is the house where Bert Brecht was born in 1898. On a canal connected to the Lech, the house is well worth a visit for the Bert Brecht Memorial.
Address: Frauentorstrasse 30, D-86152 Mozart, Germany
Official site: www.mozartstadt.de/en/mozartstadt/institution_detail.aspx?ID=6489
5 Maximilianstrasse and the Maximilian Museum
Maximilian Street – or Maximilianstrasse – is located in the heart of Augsburg, where the ancient Roman road between Germany and Italy began. It’s a beautiful old street to wander around, especially if you fancy a bit of shopping or dining to accompany your gallery and attraction hopping. A highlight is the Maximilians Museum with its lively display of Augsburg’s history, art and culture. Located in a palatial 16th-century merchant’s house, the museum’s exhibits include sculptures, work by local gold and silversmiths, and artifacts from the city’s rich history.
Address: Fuggerplatz 1, 86150 Augsburg
6 The German Baroque Gallery and the Schaezler Palace
Schaezlerpalais, a beautiful old rococo mansion with a large banquet hall dating from 1765, now houses the German Baroque Gallery and the State Gallery. Highlights of these two excellent collections include early German masters such as Holbein the Elder, Hans Burgkmair the Elder, and Albrecht Dürer, as well as works from the Augsburg and Swabian schools dating from the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance. The ornate one stands in front of the palace Hercules Fountain. Another gallery of note – and in a much more modern building – it is Glaspalasthome to the Walter Art Museum and its more than 600 works of modern art.
7 St. Ulrich’s and St. Afra’s Abbey
St Ulrich’s and St Afra’s Abbey is an ancient Benedictine structure built around 1500. Together with the quaint little Protestant St. Ulrich’s Church, built in 1458, it forms an attractive architectural ensemble worth exploring. Built in the Renaissance and Baroque styles, highlights include the Gothic furnishings and furnishings, as well as the tombs of Saints Afra, Ulrich and Simpert in the crypt. Another nearby attraction is Rotes Tor, the Red Gate, with its 17th century tower. Here you will also see two old water towers, the 17th century Heilig-Geist hospital, an open-air theater and the famous Augsburger Puppenkiste puppet theatre. Be sure to visit St Ann’s Churcha medieval structure built in 1321 that is famous for its elaborate interior.
8 Augsburg Botanical Gardens and Zoo
The Augsburg Botanical Gardens is a public space of 25 hectares and is perfect for a pleasant stroll. Highlights include the Japanese garden, a rose garden with more than 280 different species, a medicinal herb garden and a vegetable garden. More than 3,000 species are found here, ranging from perennials to wild herbs and grasses. Particularly pleasant are the 1,200 plant species under glass, as well as more than a million onion plants, cacti, climbing plants and a lounge garden. Nearby, Augsburg Zoo is also worth a look, and features 80 species of mammals; more than 200 species of birds; and numerous reptiles, amphibians and insects.
9 The Augiscan Eiskanal
Known as the world’s first artificial whitewater river, the Augische Eiskanal was built for the 1972 Summer Olympics in nearby Munich for the canoeing and kayaking slalom events. A model for numerous Olympic whitewater venues, as well as more than 50 similar facilities around the world, Eiskanal is still often used for World Championships and World Cup competitions. Even when not in use, it is great as a backdrop for a walk through one of the greenest parts of Augsburg.
10 International Mask Museum
The fun and fascinating International Mask Museum features more than 3,500 traditional and modern masks from around the world. This amazing collection contains 1300 masks from Europe, 1200 from Africa, 500 from America, 500 from Asia and 150 from Oceania. Guided tours are available and admission is by request only. Another interesting little attraction is the MAN Museum, dedicated to the creator of the first diesel engine, Rudolf Diesel. It is also worth seeing State Museum of Textiles and Textile Industry in one of Bavaria’s first factories, with exhibitions of historical machines such as spinning wheels.
Address: Lindenstrasse 1, 86420 Diedorf
Where to Stay in Augsburg for Sightseeing
We recommend these centrally located hotels in Augsburg, near top attractions like the cathedral and town hall:
- Steigenberger Hotel Drei Mohren: luxurious old town hotel, fantastic location, 18th century building, rooms and apartments with kitchenettes, Asian-style spa.
- City Hotel Ost am Ko: mid-range prices, modern room furnishings, free tasty breakfast, sauna and relaxation room.
- Dom Hotel: three-star hotel, comfortable rooms, suites and apartments with kitchenette, beamed ceiling, indoor swimming pool and sauna.
- Ibis Budget Augsburg City: budget hotel, sleek interior, free parking.
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