Between the 2nd and 12th August I was on summer holidays. At the beginning I was two days in Augsburg and then one week in Tyrol with a day trip to Innsbruck.
Augsburg is the third-largest city in Bavaria. It was already founded by the Romans, but just reached its heyday in the 16th century, when it was the home of the patrician Fugger and Welser families that dominated European banking and when it played a leading role in the Reformation. Many Renaissance-style buildings in Augsburg still testify to this golden era. The city later saw a demise in the Thirty Years' War, but in the 19th century it became a centre of the textile industry.
The Town Hall of Augsburg, designed and built by Elias Holl between 1615 and 1624, is the administrative centre of Augsburg and one of the most important secular buildings of the Renaissance style north of the Alps. Until 1917 it was the highest building in Germany.
The Fuggerei is the World's oldest social housing complex still in use. It was founded in 1521 by Jakob Fugger the Rich and still today needy Catholic citizens of Augsburg can live there for one Rhenish guilder (0.88€) per year and three daily prayers for the Fugger family.
The Saint Anne's Church is a medieval church building that was originally part of a monastery. In 1518 Martin Luther stayed at the church when he was in Augsburg to meet Cardinal Cajetan. The most famous feature of the church is the Fugger Chapel, the earliest example of Renaissance architecture in Germany. Jakob Fugger the Rich is buried there.
The Basilica of the Saints Ulrich and Afra is a Catholic church and important example of Gothic architecture. Next to it is the Lutheran Saint Ulrich Church, which together with the basilica forms a unique architectural unity.
The Augsburg Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Augsburg. It dates back to the 8th century and is today an important tourist sight.
In recent years Augsburg established its reputation as Water City. In fact Augsburg was always a pioneer in the utilisation of water. Since 2019 is the Water Management System of Augsburg on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The three Monumental Fountains are the most famous parts of this Water Management System. They were created in the Renaissance-era and symbolise the patricians, merchants and craftsmen of the former free imperial city.
The Hercules Fountain was created by Adriaen de Vries between 1596 and 1600. Hercules was chosen as strong and courageous conqueror of the water snake Hydra and was a symbol of the hydrological achievements and the flourishing craftsmanship.
The Augustus Fountain was created by Hubert Gerhard and is located in front of the Town Hall. Augustus, the founder of Augsburg, is depicted as peace emperor who calls for harmony in the biconfessional time in the 16th century.
The Mercury Fountain was also created by Adriaen de Vries. Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, symbolises the ancient origin of Augsburg and its role as trading metropolis during the fountain's creation in the late 16th century.
The Waterworks at the Red Gate is the oldest existing waterworks building in Central Europa. Beginning in 1416 it played a central role in Augsburg water system and provided the city with drinking water for more than 400 years. Over the centuries it was constantly developed and thus it demonstrates the technical developments of each era.
The Swabian Craft Museum is located within the ensemble of the Waterworks at the Red Gate. It was opened in 1985.
The Augsburger Puppenkiste is a marionette theatre located in the Heilig-Geist-Spital. Since 1948 it shows performances of fairy tales and serious pieces and since 1953 it also does TV productions. Famous characters are Jim Knopf, Urmel and the Augsburger Kasperle.
On one of the cards I put a matching stamp (issued 10-08-2017) and got it handcancelled when I was back home.
The Maximilian Museum was opened in 1854 and is thus the oldest museum in Augsburg. The most famous exhibits at the museum are the original bronzes of the three Monumental Fountains.
The Schaezlerpalais is a magnificent Baroque palace in Augsburg. Its ball room is considered to be one of the most important Rococo ball rooms in Germany.
The Staatsgallerie for Old German Masters is the oldest branch gallery of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and shows one of the most important collections of Old German Masters in Bavaria. The most famous exhibit is Albrecht Dürer's portrait of Jakob Fugger the Rich.
The Synagogue of Augsburg was built between 1914 and 1917. During the November Pogrom of 1938 and the Allied Bombings in World War II the Synagogue was badly damaged and just since 1985 it can again be fully used by the Jewish community of Augsburg. Since 1985 it also houses the Jewish Museum Augsburg-Swabia.
The Fugger and Welser Museum is an experience museum about the Fugger and Welser. It was opened in 2014 and is housed in the former home of the Renaissance optician Johann Wiesel.
The Roman Museum of Augsburg was opened in 1966. Actually it is housed in the Dominican Church, but currently it is located in the Arsenal, as the church is renovated.
The Diocesan Museum, opened in 2000, shows religious art from 17 centuries.
The Golden Roof is one of the most important sights of Innsbruck. The building behind it was constructed in 1420 and the alcove balcony was added in 1500. It is roofed with 2657 fire-gilded shingles. Since 2007 the building houses the Museum Golden Roof, which was recently modernised for the 500th death anniversary of Emperor Maximilian I.
On one of the cards from the museum I put two stamps about the 500th death anniversary of Emperor Maximilian I (issued 11-04-2019) and got them cancelled at the philatelic shop in Innsbruck.
The Court Church was built between 1553 and 1563. It houses the cenotaph of Emperor Maximilian I and is known for its 28 large bronze statues of ancestors, relatives and heroes of the emperor. The church also houses the tomb of Andreas Hofer.
Schwaz is a city in the Austrian state of Tyrol and the administrative centre of the Schwaz district. In the 15th and 16th century it was an important silver mining centre.
Tratzberg Castle is one of the best preserved castles in Austria.
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