Augsburg – some information

The first Olympic kayak slalom stadium was built in Augsburg for the 1972 Olympics. Located in the suburb Hochzoll-Spickel, the area with the name Eiskanal, is situated in the city’s most lovely recreation area, the Olympic course has a total length of 600 m. This challenging course has built-in cement obstacles and movable water deflectors. At a flow rate of 10 and more cubic metre/sec., the water speed is about 3-6 m/sec, the difference in elevation between the start and finish lines is 4.5 m. Kayakers from all over the world come to work out in several additional practice courses. Many of the world’s key kayak competitions took and take place in Augsburg.

The Augsburg Town Hall was built between 1615 and 1620 under the guidance of city architect Elias Holl and is considered the most significant secular Renaissance building north of the Alps. During a bombing attack in February 1944, the Town Hall took a direct hit and only the burned-out shell remained standing. The façade was restored after the war, and in 1985, in honour of the city’s 2000-year anniversary, the inside of the building was completely renovated. The restorers paid careful attention to historical detail, particularly in the famous “Goldener Saal “with its magnificent golden portals, coffered ceiling, and murals; and to the adjacent Prince’s Chambers.

Along with the Town Hall, the Perlach Tower is the most recognizable symbol of Augsburg. The tower rises over the 1182-built collegiate church of St. Peter on Perlach. In the course of building the neighbouring Town Hall, architect Elias Holl haaHaad it erected in 1614. The tower stands 70 m high and is equipped with a carillon and onion dome. Every year on September 29th (the Feast of St. Michael and all Angels) the children of Augsburg delight in the Turamichele festival. Every hour on the hour, a small door in the tower opens and two mechanical figures come out. As the bell strikes, the figure of St. Michael defeats the dragon with a thrust of his spear. For a commanding view of the surrounding countryside, one can climb the 261 steps to the top of the tower. The particularly sporty participate each year in the “Perlachturm Run”, a challenge to see who is the quickest to the top.

Augustus fountain:

The Augustus Fountain was erected in 1594 to commemorate the city’s 1600th birthday and to honour its Roman founder. It is based on designed by Hubert Gerhard and is located in front of the Town Hall. The four figures at the base of the fountain symbolize Augsburg’s abundant water supply and represent its four rivers: the Lech with an oar, the Wertach with a water mill, the Singold with a cornucopia and the Brunnenbach with a fishnet.

Mercury fountain:

From 1596-1599 the Dutch sculptor Adriaen de Vries worked on the creation of the Mercury Fountain, which stands on Moritzplatz. The portrayal of Mercury, god of commerce, is an allegory for Augsburg’s importance as a trade centre. He wears a winged helmet and in his right hand holds a serpent-entwined staff - a symbol of happiness and peace.

Hercules fountain:

The Hercules Fountain stands directly in front of the Schaezler Palace and is likewise the work of Adriaen de Vries. The sculpture (created from 1597-1600) symbolizes craftsmanship; that as Hercules made use of the power of fire to subjugate the force of water, the innovative power of the human spirit can be used to tame and utilize the forces of nature.

The Fuggerei is known as a “city within a city” and is still managed by the Fugger family foundation as it was at the time of its beginning. In 1521, Jakob Fugger the Rich and his brothers founded what is now the oldest social settlement in the world for habitants from Augsburg who had fallen into hardship (and who practiced the Catholic faith). The settlement is comprised of 67 houses with 140 apartments, a church and a fountain. Even today, annual rent is the equivalent of one Rhenish Gulden, about Euro 0,88. House rules still dictate that every day residents must recite The Lord’s Prayer in honour of the settlement’s founders.

Zeughaus:

Elias Holl built the one-time weapons arsenal in 1607; its ornate mannerist style façade was designed by Joseph Heintz. Over the portal is a bronze grouping designed by Hans Reichle and cast by Wolfgang Neidhart depicting St. Michael in the battle against Satan. In 1806, the Armoury became the property of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was bought back by the city of Augsburg in 1895; in the following years it was used as Fire Department headquarters. Since its renovation in 1978-80, the Armoury has been used as an adult education and meeting centre and since 2003 the Albert Greiner Sing and Music School has made its home there. The magnificent Toskanische Säulenhalle serves as a home for travelling exhibitions.

A lot of historical sites are in the city.. Augsburg was founded in 15 B.C. by the Roman commanders Drusus and Tiberius. Under the orders of their stepfather Emperor Augustus, they enslaved the Celts and Alp-dwellers and founded the military camp Augusta Vindelicum on the site of current-day Augsburg. The camp soon became the capital of the Roman province Raetia. Augsburg’s early development of was moulded by its 400-year affiliation with the Roman Empire. Critical to its ascent were its military importance in the Roman Empire as well as its favourable location at the convergence of the Alpine rivers Lech and Wertach with direct access to the most important Alpine passes. Consequently, Augsburg was situated at the intersection of many important European east-west and north-south connections. Out of these Roman roads emerged the trade routes of the Middle Ages. In the 13th century, Augsburg became a Free Imperial City and remained so for the next 500 years. Augsburg has been the seat of a bishop for over 1250 years. The peak boom years were reached in the 15th and 16th centuries through the bank and metal businesses of the merchant families Fugger and Welser. The financial power of these families fostered Augsburg’s position as a cosmopolitan city, as a city of emperors and parliaments. It was a creative centre for famous painters, sculptors and musicians. Augsburg is the birthplace of the painter family Holbein, the composer Leopold Mozart and the playwright Berthold Brecht. Rococo became so prevalent in that it became known as “Augsburg style”. After the Thirty Years’ War, the decorative arts came into fruition. Gold- and silversmiths as well as copper engraving and lithography flourished. At the end of the 18th century, the textile industry began its rise to prominence followed by machine manufacturing. Groundbreaking innovations in industry leant Augsburg international standing.

Rudolf Diesel constructed the first internal combustion engine here, Linde built the first refrigerator, Messerschmitt created the first mass-produced jet airplane. Today, with its rich heritage, Augsburg and the region are centres for industry, science, art and culture. Augsburg has circa 275,000 inhabitants, is a university city and is the third largest economic- and industrial centre in Bavaria. The city of Augsburg and its surrounding rural areas offer attractive business and industry zones and are the headquarters of research institutions and technology concerns. Augsburg is the only German city with its own legal holiday, the Peace of Augsburg, celebrated on August 8 of every year. This gives Augsburg more legal holidays than any other region or city in Germany.