Photos

Augsburg
On a very grey day – 2 days before the opening of the Christmas market.

History:
Ever since its founding by Caesar Augustus - after whom it was named, the town of Augsburg has stood at the Intersection of some of the most important trade and travel routes on the Continent. Even in the Middle Ages the city owed its great importance to his favoured position. In the 13th century the citizens achieved for the old cathedral town of Augsburg the status of a free city in the Holy Roman Empire (Reichsstadt). The Welsers with their shipping interests and the rich and influential Fuggers helped to turn Augsburg into a city of international importance: a city of emperors and a venue for imperial diets, the home and workplace of famous artists, sculptors and composers.

The Renaissance remains one of the high points of the city's cultural history; at that time Augsburg was a centre of architecture, music and painting. The ancestors of Holbein and Mozart lived for centuries in the city and its hinterland. The rococo style was in its time described as the "Augsburg style". Today, Augsburg is the goal of international tourists as are the Fuggerei, the Schaezlerpalais, the Mozart House or the Bert Brecht House.

Rathaus:
The Rathaus,(Town Hall) was built by the City Architect Elias Holl between 1615 and 1620.
Severly damaged in 1944 in an air raid. Reconstruction of the facade after WWII and of the interior in 1962.
In 1985, on the occasion of Augsburg´s 2000-year jubilee, the Golden Hall, with its imposing portals, gold-leaf coffered ceilings and murals, was extensively restored.

Christmas Market:
The Augsburg Christmas market is one of the oldest in Germany. Its origin is going back to the 15th century where took place a “Lebkuchen” (Gingerbread) market in 1498 in front of the city hall just as it is today.
Open the 27th of November – ends the 24th of December

More info on www.augsburg.de