Fuggerei: World's Oldest Social Settlement and other Augsburg, Germany Things to Do Tips

Jacob Fugger the Rich founded the settlement named Fuggerei in 1521 to give poor Augsburg citizens cheap housing and a chance for a better life. That makes it the oldest social housing project in the world. The 67 buildings of the Fuggerei still serve for the same purpose today.

Three conditions have to be fulfilled to be accepted as inhabitant: The candidate has to be needy, catholic, and have a flawless reputation. The rent is still the same as in the 16th century, the equivalent of one Rhenish guilder per year(!), in those times this was about the income a craftsman earned in one week. In today's currency, this sums up to 88 Euro cents excluding heating.
Besides, each inhabitant is obliged to say three prayers per day for the founders and the Fugger family. Given the catholic faith and piety of the 16th century, this was the most important part of the agreement for the founder: securing continuous prayer for the salvation of his own soul after his death as well as those of his defunct family members.

The Fuggerei is like a little town of its own, with walls and gates, its own church and administration. The settlement is still administered by a committee which consists of members of the Fugger family's three remaining lines.

The seven lanes of the settlement with their uniform yellow houses, most of them covered with vines, the little gardens along the back side, fountains, a small park form an ensemble with cosy flair.

In Ochsengasse 51, one model apartment, fully furnitured but uninhabited, can be visited to see how people live in these houses today. Otherwise, please respect the privacy of the inhabitants who have to cope with tourist crowds every day.
The museum in the house Mittlere Gasse 13 (see separate tip) contains the only originally preserved 16th century apartment.

More pictures on the Fuggerei travelogue page.

Leave a Comment

Address: Entrance from Jakoberstraße
Directions: Opening hours for visitors:
April - October: 8.00 - 20.00
November - March: 9.00 - 18.00

Entrance fee: adults 4 €, children 2 €.
Website: http://www.fugger.de

The little catholic church, situated next to the main entrance from Jacoberstraße, was begun in 1581. It has been redesigned a couple of times, last time during the repairs of the damages caused by World War II bombs. Renaissance and baroque pieces of the interior have survived.
The Fuggerei employed a priest of ist own who was also doing the job of the teacher in the settlement’s school.

After World War II, the Southern gable of the church was decorated with a sundial bearing the merchants’ Motto „Nütze die Zeit“ (Make the most of your time).

Leave a Comment

Address: Herrengasse

Mittlere Gasse 13 is the only house of the Fuggerei where the original construction is preserved. The apartment on the ground floor contains historical furniture and offers an impression how housing in the Fuggerei originally was like. Next-door house No. 14 hosts a small exhibition about the Fugger family, the foundation and the history of the Fuggerei.

Leave a Comment

Address: Mittlere Gasse, houses 13 and 14
Website: http://www.fugger.de

The Fuggerei’s newest sight is the exhibition in the World War II bunker which has been opened in summer 2008. It shows the fate of the Fuggerei and its residents during the Third Reich, the destructions caused by allied air raids and the post-war rebuilding.

Leave a Comment

Directions: In the little park behind the houses of Herrengasse - follow the signs to the "Bunker".

The Bishop's residence next to the cathedral is a huge complex that consists of several wings that were added over centuries. Most of the buildings show the baroque style, these were erected in the late 17th and 18th century. The outer courtyard, called Fronhof, is surrounded by economy and administration buildings while the part next to the cathedral contains the residential quarters. While the cathedral has preserved its medieval style to show its tradition, the Bishops wanted modern housing in contemporary style and turned their residence into a baroque palace. The irregular ground plan shows that this wasn't one big project but grew in the long run.

Leave a Comment

Directions: Next to the cathedral

The little garden inside the complex of the Bishop's Residence has been turned into a public park.
The original garden was planned by Johann C. Bagnato in 1739-1744. The 18th century pillars and fence, sculptures and gates are still there. garden itself has been redesigned.
The small park is a cosy and quiet refuge that invites to rest and relax on a chair or on the lawns.

Leave a Comment

Directions: In the outer courtyard of the Bishop's Residence.
Open from April to October, daily 8.00-21.00