"WELCOME TO MY AUGSBURG PAGE......:-)" Augsburg by eden_teuling

How else could I start this AUGUSBURG PAGE then with a portait of the man who was of such importance to this city....

(The famous Albrecht D?rer (1471 - 1528) is the artist who portrayed him)

He is JAKOB FUGGER , a business man from AUGSBURG with an IDEA , a perfect idea and.....he knew how to realise this IDEA of his, I myself saw the results..........

Fugger was the founder of the worldwide mercantile power of his house and in 1514 he bought 4 houses on the outskirts of AUGSBURG.
This was an area where most of the WEAVERS lived, small houses but each one had a courtyard and a garden!

He must have been a spirited, eager man and he went on and on buying properties and building houses!
In 1516 seventeen houses were already occupied and in 1523 there were already 52 houses in the SETTLEMENT.

And this word SETTLEMENT is the keyword of his plan.
Although in this early state there were no rules or a founding charter, it was obvious that Fugger wanted a SELF-CONTAINED institution, free from CIVIC and CLERICAL TUTELAGE devoted only to charitable work and administered solely by HIS FAMILY!

This SETTLEMENT was called (and still is called) the FUGGEREI.
In the tips & travelogues I shall continue the story!

5 PROPHETS DOM AUGSBURG

These stained-glass windows are the oldest ones in the WORLD!
Needless to say that I adore them.....

They date back to the 1150s, so it is a considerable time ago that a very talented person created this beauty and we still have this precious gift!

You can find and admire them and feel silenced by their beauty, in the NAVE of the Medeival part of the dom called "das Mittelgeschoss des romanischen Langhauses".

The style is ROMANESQUE........

From left to right you see the PROPHETS:

1. Hosea
2. Moses
3. Daniël
4. Jonas
5. King David

The choice of colours is very special!
And those huge eyes that seem to be looking at you with such a penetrating gaze...... amazing beauty!

GOOSEGIRL IN AUGSBURG (BRONZE)

Augsburg is situated on the banks of the river LECH and is absolutely worthy of your visit: it was really surprising.......
The City was awarded the gold medal of the EUROPEAN horticultural competition " ENTENTE FLORALE" as the most beautiful and greenest city of all participating cities from 9 European countries and isn't that GREAT and of significance??

The centre of this charming city is the PICTURESQUE, MAGNIFICENT ENSEMBLE of the Renaissance Town Hall and the PERLACH TOWER.

The outstanding municipal architect ELIAS HOLT built de Town Hall and the Perlach Tower in the early 17th Century!
There always was enough money for imposing buildings in the heyday of this city.
It once was a European financial metropolis due to immensely wealthy merchants such as the FUGGER FAMILY.

It was also during this period that the WELSER merchant family colonized Venezuela and when the member of the house of Habsburg Emperor Maximilian liked to be called: MAYOR OF AUGSBURG!

There are several magnificent FOUNTAINS is this city, which also date back to the Renaissance period.
The AUGUSTUS fountain, the MERCURIUS fountain and the HERCULES fountain add to the splendor of the Maximilianstrasse, one of the most beautiful streets in Southern Germany.

Feeling like a walk?? You can walk the City Wall with its green BULWARKS and the ROMANTIC TOWERS , all of which are still in perfect condition today.....

A visit to the ALTSTADT (a thing I will always do!) with its numerous craftsmen's houses, its narrow alley-ways, its narrow gable ends and the many canals will definitely make you fall in love with AUGSBURG.

And I must not forget to tell you about the AUGSBURGER PUPPENKISTE .......that is housed in a wonderful Renaissance building.

In 1998 this puppet theatre could already celebrate the 50th anniversary of its foundation!

The puppets on strings that are the STARS of this theater are so well-known that I would advise you to attend a performance there, so refreshing and relaxing and....interesting and exciting!

Now, put on your comfortable shoes and start walking.............till your feet threaten to kill you...........plenty of places for refreshments are all around you......no problem finding a good beer, cup of coffee or tea or a HOT CHOCOLATE , which is my favourite......

ENJOY AUGSBURG!

• Pros:AN INVITING LOOKING CITY, SPACIOUS AND SO RICH IN BEAUTY!
• Cons:NONE....
• In a nutshell:A REAL MUST, YOU CAN'T MISS ITS PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS....AND ATMOSPHERE....