Augsburg, the capital of the region Schwaben in the German state of Bavaria, and at an altitude of 490 m on the river Lech was founded by the Roman Emperor Augustus in 15 BC as a military post. Augsburg, Germany's second oldest city, is a College town and home of the Government’s regional administrative offices for Schwabia.
An urban district, it houses the institutions of the Augsburg district. It is the third-largest city in Bavaria after Munich and Nürnberg, with a population exceeding 264,000 citizens. It is unique in that it is the only German city with a legal holiday of its own, the Peace of Augsburg, August 8 every year. Augsburg is the conduit to the Alps and the south. Its 2,000 years of history and wealth of art and architecture have made it one of southern Germany's major tourist destinations.
How to Get There:
Visitors coming by air have to get in from Munich, 67 km away. Buses and trains then bring you to Augsburg city. Housing the oldest railway station in Germany, it is very well connected to a number of international cities by ICE and TGV superfast trains. It also has a national highway to Munich. Transportation within the city is excellent with trams, buses and regional trains.
What to See:
Augsburg Town Hall (Rathaus) was built between 1615 and 1620; The Perlachturm next to the town hall is part of the monastery church St. Peter am Perlach. The tower was built in 1182; The church Sankt Ulrich und Afra was built as the church of the free Imperial Benedictine abbey in 1474; The Stadttheater (Municipal Theatre 1876–1877); the Cathedral of Our Lady (Mariendom) (700 AD). The first document mentioning the cathedral of Our lady dates from 822; The Augustusbrunnen in front of the Town Hall is the oldest of the three monumental fountains in Augsburg's main street, Maximilianstraße. The Renaissance fountain was created in 1588–1594; The Herkulesbrunnen is the largest of the three fountains. It was cast in 1602. The Jüdisches Kulturmuseum, a Jewish museum that traces the history of Jewish communities in the area, with a tour of Augsburg's main synagogue (1917).
What to Eat:
Try Augsburg’s highly recommended Goldene Gans Bräustüble, for its excellent salad and smooth beer. The Lustküche is a gourmet’s delight and somewhat expensive, but worth the price. Other recommended restaurants are Restaurant August, Gronde & Dennhardt Restaurant, the Magnolia and Die Ecke, where food is traditional Swabian/Bavarian with subtle Mediterranean influences. At König von Bayern, near the cathedral, speciality beers from the Andechs abbey brewery can be sipped with typical Bavarian fare like spätzle (noodles).
Where to Drink:
Bayerl Weinkellerei GmbH & Co., Eber's Wolfsklause, La Bocca and Jakobus Bier und Weinstube are four bars that will satiate you. The variety in German beer is amazing, as are their aromatic white wines.
Augsburg International Summer of Jazz:
The Augsburg International Summer of Jazz in July and August has some real musical treats to look forward to, with five concerts in the Botanical Garden, five in diverse locations around the city and five matinées in the courtyard of the erstwhile armoury.
Hotels:
Augsburg has 27 hotels from 2-4 star category. Prices range from € 40-79. The four international 5-star hotels are more expensive. As is standard in Germany, youth hostels and rooms for backpackers are also available, from € 15-25, apart from the bed and breakfast set ups which charge from €25-35.
