Study location Augsburg
As the third largest city in Bavaria, Augsburg has the ideal mixture of big city flair and cosy charm. There are numerous cafes, restaurants and shops in the city centre. At the same time, recreational areas such as the Siebentischwald or numerous bathing lakes are only a stone's throw away, and thus offer an ideal alternative to the bustle of the big city. The history of the Fugger city goes back more than 2,000 years, so there is a great deal to tell: about the ancient Romans, the Fuggers, the textile industry, Leopold Mozart and Bertolt Brecht. With numerous cultural offerings, from classical theatre to the trendy pop festival, something is offered for every taste. On this page you will find plenty of information about the city of Augsburg, its history and the numerous local recreational opportunities.
A city with history
The city was founded in 15 BC by the Romans and is therefore one of the oldest cities in Germany. In the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance it was one of the most important cities in Europe. The far-reaching trade empires of the Fuggers and Welsers had branches not only on the old continent of Europe, but also in the New World. Textile production, book printing and crafts made the Swabian city famous. Emperors liked to make it the scene of their magnificent Imperial Diets. The wealth and global nature of early modern Augsburg are still reflected in the cityscape. In addition to the testimonies of the Renaissance, which are unique north of the Alps, the Fuggerei, the world's first social settlement, attracts tourists from all over the world today. Names such as Holbein, Mozart and Brecht, but also the Confessio Augustana (1530) and the Religious Peace of Augsburg (1555) bear witness to the cultural and historical importance of Augsburg.
The formerly Free Imperial City has belonged to Bavaria since 1806. With almost 300,000 inhabitants, it is the third largest city in the Free State of Bavaria. Renowned global companies that are based here prove the successful structural transformation that Augsburg has undergone - from the traditional industrial city where Rudolf Diesel developed the engine named after him, to a future-oriented, high-tech metropolis of the 21st century.
If you want to know more about the exciting history of the Fugger city, you can satisfy your thirst for knowledge in the city’s numerous Museums & Galleries. You can discover many of Augsburg’s attractions by just going for a walk.
Augsburg Never Enough
Museums & Galleries
The 2000-year history of the city can be experienced in many museums, whether history, art, technology, industry or the world-famous figures of the Augsburg Puppet Theatre.
Attractions
In addition to the oldest existing social settlement in the world, the Fuggerei, there are many other attractions that tell the story of the city.
Famous people
From Leopold Mozart to Bertolt Brecht - Augsburg is the home town of many well-known personalities in contemporary history.
Cultural offer - from theatre to festival
The "Modular", as a youth festival of the City Youth Association and the City of Augsburg, offers a unique blend of music, pop culture and workshops, especially for young people. At the festival local bands meet national and international stars of the industry. Bands such as Wanda, Frittenbude, Kraftklub, The Orsons, eRRdeKa and AnnenMayKantereit have already appeared on stage at the "Modular". Poetry slams, workshops, exhibitions and discussion forums complete the diverse programme. But numerous other events such as the "Brecht Festival", the "Mozart Festival" or the street art festival "La Strada" round off the city’s festival programme. Friends of the classical stage play also come into their own with the offer of the State Theatre or one of the many other theatre stages. In the summer months, the open-air theatre in the city centre offers a variety of stage plays under the open sky.
Das "Modular" Festival in Augsburg
The City of Water
Augsburg becomes a World Heritage Site certification with its water management system, which is unique in the world. Based on various scientific work, the city expressed its interest in becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the first time in 2011.
Theatre & Culture
The State Theatre, the open-air theatre, the Abraxas Cultural Centre or Kresslesmühle are just a few of the numerous venues. Augsburg's cultural offering is lively and provides something for everyone, from high culture to the alternative scene. The world-famous Augsburg Puppet Theatre also has its home in the Fugger city.
Festivals
There is plenty of entertainment in Augsburg, with a variety of festivals throughout the year. Augsburg is especially lively in summer, with many cultural events going on, whether at the "Modular" music festival, the street art festival "La Strada" or the Augsburg Summer Nights in the heart of the city centre.
Time for leisure
The campus is not the only green area in Augsburg. With its rivers, canals and parks, the city invites you to relax and to practise sports. Beautiful recreational areas and many bathing lakes border the city, with the Siebentischwald and the Westliche Wälder. The Allgäu and the Alps are almost right on the doorstep; in winter you can go skiing and in summer, hiking.
During the Olympic Games in Munich (1972) the canoe competitions took place in Augsburg. The Eiskanal, the competition site built for this purpose, is still used today for canoe World Cup competitions. Further top-class sports are offered by FC Augsburg in the 1st National League and the Augsburger Panther (AEV) in ice hockey.
In Augsburg city centre, there are numerous shops for an extended shopping trip. A mixture of small boutiques and shops, but also department stores and shopping malls invites you to take a leisurely stroll.
With well-known festivals such as the Augsburger Plärrer or the Christkindlesmarkt in the Rathausplatz, there is plenty of variety throughout the year. The Augsburg Summer Nights and events such as the historic Bürgerfest attract thousands of visitors.
Nine swimming pools, four lakes, canals and rivers
Water is everywhere in Augsburg and brings the city to life. Spending a refreshing time on rivers and canals on hot summer days is almost a city culture. If you prefer to swim in lakes or in the pool, from May to September you have the choice between four swimming lakes and five outdoor pools. Alternatively, there are four indoor pools that are run by the city to choose from: the public baths, which are more than 110 years old, and the indoor pools in Göggingen, Haunstetten and Spickel.
Sports: Running tracks, sports complexes and clubs
You can cycle at Lech and Wertach, jog in the Siebentischwald, swim in the Kuhsee, and train in various types of sport in the city’s sports facilities, its indoor swimming pools and gyms. Around 170 clubs offer more than 80 types of sport. For football fans there are about 40 football fields. If you prefer to watch, you can cheer as the pros of FC Augsburg compete in the first National League.
Green corners and destinations for excursions
One fifth of the city area is covered with forest, and numerous parks and public gardens are spread throughout the city centre and the surrounding neighbourhoods. If you want some greenery in Augsburg, you don’t have to cover long distances; rest and relaxation is on the doorstep. The Westliche Wälder, a nature park with more than 2500 kilometres of marked cycling routes and hiking trails, start right in the west of Augsburg. Anyone interested in the world of exotic plants is in the right place in the Botanical Garden.
Festivals and markets
Markets are an integral part of Augsburg city life. At the city market, traders sell fruit and vegetables from their own gardens, meat from the region and delicacies from all over the world. Twice a year, the Jakobervorstadt also turns into a fairground mile: at Easter and in the autumn, a wide variety of goods is on offer at the Augsburger Dult. During the Advent season, the Christkindlesmarkt is an attraction with a Christmas atmosphere, and the Plärrer, with amusement rides, nostalgic fairground shows and marquees, promises lots of fun and a sociable Bavarian atmosphere.
From Augsburg into the world
In the unlikely event that you have seen enough of Augsburg and want to discover the world, or just go home for the weekend, Augsburg offers a perfect connection to the rest of Germany and Europe due to its location.
The cities of Munich (60 km), Ulm (80 km), Stuttgart (160 km) and Nuremberg (140 km) are easily accessible by road or rail. There are direct ICE connections several times a day to Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Paris.
And if you want to go further, the international airports at Munich and Memmingen are also very close, at just an hour's drive from Augsburg.