Exploring Augsburg
Our first time in Augsburg, so we had planned to spend time wandering around the city, camera in hand to get a flavour of the place.
Stepping outside our hotel, Maximilian’s, the first question is whether to turn right or left?
We decide to turn right, heading towards a large church we can see beyond some road works. As we go, we pass some grand entrances with heavy doors. This, the Maximilianstrasse, is one of the most historic streets in the city.
Whilst we try to work out how to get through the network of barriers, we’re shown the way by a helpful worker, who wishes us Good Morning before returning to his work.
It’s serious stuff, too! We’ve never seen so many pipes (high voltage power cables, apparently)
Whilst at home, we’d expect to find the milkman delivering supplies as this time of the day, here it’s a different kind of delivery 🍺😉
At last, we reach the church of St Ulrich u. Afra. Next question…do we want to explore further?
Perhaps not right now…
Let’s turn back and have a look around the city centre.
We head back towards the hotel, noting the large white building adjacent to the 17th century Hercules fountain. It’s the Schaetzlerpalais, now an art gallery, but in common with other grand buildings along here, was formerly the home of several wealthy Augsburgers over the years.
Passing our hotel again, we note the grand ochre facade next door; currently with signs outside for a private bank.
We carry on and turn left, down into the central area, past more everyday shops and through smaller streets where we come across this delightful corner where a small beach has been created for small children to play. This backdrop is fenced off, however, with signs that clearly state that it’s not part of the play area.
A small group of children are having their photo taken by this masterpiece, so I wait my turn patiently!
The signs in this square invited everyone to play, or at least to give slacklining a try, because there in between the two blue anchor points is about two metres of metal cable (with the red and white flags hanging from it). There’s some tips and tricks outlined on each of the anchor points, offering encouragement to passers by. Though I’d love to watch someone give it a try, we are neither young nor foolish enough to do that ourselves and in this quiet corner, it doesn’t look as if anyone else is either!
We’re now in the shadow of St Anna’s church and in the centre of the historic city.
As we settle into a couple of chairs with a drink, I notice that all three “houses” (now shops and restaurants) have historic signs on their walls, so I take a photo of each. The first one states that between 1511 and 1519, Bartholomaus Welser lived there and goes on to explain briefly who he was. Quite an entertaining read!
The name on the next plaque is Regina von Langenmantel, whose foundation now owns the house. A quick internet search for her name soon links with further Welser references, suggesting that she too was part of the Augsburg elite.
The third plaque is rather more tricky to read. This house was owned by the widow of Konrad Hirn, Afra. The Hirns had amassed wealth as merchants in the 15th century and had endowed St Anna’s with a chapel intended as their burial place. With no children to inherit their wealth, the Hirn foundation became an important philanthropic contributor in Augsburg at that time.
Fascinated though we are by these well-documented Augsburg inhabitants from the late Middle Ages, there’s a sign pointing to the market which interests us.
Needless to say, we can’t resist the wonderful selection of crystallised fruit.
And, have you ever seen such a grand entrance to TK Maxx?
That crest above the door is echoed on the sign alongside and references a name from the private bank we passed this morning: Fugger.
With aching feet and feeling like it’s time to head back to the hotel, we stop in the Town Hall Square and take a few photos of that grand facade. As I stand there, I spot the tourist office, so head over with the intention of finding some ideas for tomorrow.
Putting our feet up before dinner, we soon find that although we might be short on energy right now, we are far from short of ideas, intentions and most of all, enthusiasm!
