The Fugger Family - Part 1
by aliante1981
I thought I would make a separate tip to tell something more about the family. They were first a German mercantile, and then mostly a banking dynasty that dominated European business during the 15th and 16th centuries, influenced the development of capitalism and European politics. And at the peak of their time in ‘power’ they were - believe it or not - the richest family in the whole of Europe.
Hans Fugger - the first man of the dynasty - was a weaver from the village of Graben in Swabia, and he established the family in Augsburg in 1367. He was also a shrewd man - marrying twice the daughters of masters of the weavers' guild, the Fugger got civic rights (which were the cornerstone if you wanted to achieve something) and the freedom of the company. He also became a member of the guild's committee of 12 and of the city's great council and conducted a successful textile trade. From this moment the family’s rise to prominence (though not a fast one) began.
After his death in 1408, his sons Andreas and Jakob I, both of whom had chosen a path different (and somewhat more prestigious one) from that of their father - namely the goldsmith's trade - jointly carried on the family business until they dissolved their partnership in 1454. Just like modern-day family corporations:)))
Although Andreas, thought to have had the most business acumen of the two, and his descendants quickly attained great wealth, they went bankrupt half a century later, in 1499, as a result of an overextension of business activity and the loss of a lawsuit. Again, widely reminiscent of today:))
Musikhochschule
by Nemorino
This Music University was formerly called the "Leopold Mozart Conservatory." It was founded in 1873 as the Augsburg Music School and belonged to the city for many years, before being taken over by the state of Bavaria and raised to the status of a university.
Address: Maximiliamstraße 59
Fuggerei
by aliante1981
The two banking families, the Welsers and the Fuggers, along with the success in some industries brought Augsburg much of its fame, prosperity, and clout during 15th-16th centuries. Today, you will find hardly any mention of the family of the Welsers. But the founders of the powerful Fugger family - the other side of this equation - have established themselves permanently by what is now traditional, but then was not - a charitable institution. They established the Fuggerei in 1519 (Jakob Fugger was the person who created it) house poorer citizens of Augsburg. It's Europe's oldest welfare housing. Strangely enough, it still works.
The basic features, laid down in 1521, are still in force today. The nominal rent of 1€ per annum (formerly one Rheinish guilder) has not changed in more than 450 years (the city council determines who gets the break--it's based on need). The only obligation is that tenants pray daily for the souls of their founders. I bet there would be many people whishing to live in a 16th century house for 1 Euro a year and a daily prayer! The Fuggerei is a miniature, self-contained town with its own gates, which are shut from 10pm to 5am and guarded by a night watchman. Franz Mozart, the great-grandfather of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, once lived here.
Schaezlerpalais
by aliante1981
The Schaezlerpalais, an impressive 60-room palace constructed between 1765 and 1770, contains an even more impressive, amazing art collection. Augsburg is not one of Europe’s most important cultural centres, so it was surprising to find such an impressive collection of German art of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The artists include Hans Holbein the Elder and Hans Burgkmair. One of the most famous paintings is Albrecht Dürer's portrait of Jakob Fugger the Rich, or Jakob II.
Rubens, Veronese, Tiepolo, and others are also represented, though to a much lesser degree (naturally) than the German painters. The palace-gallery also contains a rococo ballroom, with gilded and mirrored wall panels and a ceiling fresco, The Four Continents. One of the most famous balls it hosted was when Marie Antoinette took part. The palace, and consequently the museum as well, is open from Wednesday till Sunday in the 10am-5pm break. Admission costs 3 Euros to adults, and 1.50 Euros for children over 10 and students (bring proof of status). Children under10 free.
Hoher Dom - outside: Roman times and Middle Ages
by Mikebond
The green area outside the Dom is called Fronhof. It was the field for jousts and tournaments in the ancient times.
Just outside the Dom you can see Roman excavations. As I have written in the introduction to this page, Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum) was the most ancient Roman settlement to the North of the Alps.
I have been told that in another part of the city, an excellent settlement is buried underground but the works to discover it will be led only in 10-15 years for the temporary lack of money and of appropriate technical means.
Close to the excavations there is an exposition of Roman sculptures. The two sculptures above in this photo represent seeds of Swiss stone pine (pinus cembra), a tree that the Romans brought to Augsburg and that has later become the symbol of the city.
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Street Scene
Bishop's residence
Fuggerei, church
Row of houses and gardens in the Fuggerei
