Rentavillas Travel Blog

A visit to Augsburg, Germany takes you back in time. There is evidence of settlements along the Lech and Danube Rivers existing at least seven centuries before the birth of Christ. The Roman city of Aelia Augusta was founded in the First Century, and there are vesitges of this city in Augsburg today. During the Middle Ages, Augsburg saw the growth of the Fugger and Welser families with their connections to Emperor Maximilian. And the Renaissance brought new life to Augsburg with the beautiful buildings on famed Maximilianstrasse. Today, Augsburg blends all its past lives into one vibrant and beautiful city.

Plan on staying at least two days to at least get a feel for this historic city. There is so much to see in Augsburg, you won’t be bored staying even longer. As you roam through the city, be on the alert for the city’s coat of arms: the “pine cone”. The pine cone was the symbol of eternity in the Roman times.

What to See in Augsburg

St. Mary’s Cathedral
This Gothic cathedral contains the oldest painted glass windows in the world. These beautiful “prophets windows” were made by the monks of Tegern Lake in 1140. Another treasure of the cathedral is the four panels painted by Hans Holbein the Elder.

Roman Wall
Just outside the cathedral, is the Roman Wall that reminds us of Augsburg’s beginnings. You will notice the pine cone motif in this excavation.

Roman Museum
To see an extensive collection of Roman artifacts and learn more of the history of the Roman settlement in Augsburg, be sure to visit this exciting museum.

It is housed in the former Dominican Church of St. Magdelena, built in 1515 and baroquised in 1724.
Römisches Museum Augsburg
Dominikanergasse 15

Maximilianstrasse
Considered the most beautiful street in Germany, Maximilianstrasse winds past the Rathaus ( Town Hall) with its Golden Hall and beautifully restored murals, and the magnificent Augustus Fountain erected in 1594 in honor of the Roman founders of the city.

Mozart House
This is the house where Mozart’s father, Leopold was born. It now is the Mozart Memorial Museum, filled with Mozart memorabalia and history.

Schaezler Palace
This grand palace at 46 Maximilianstrasse was once owned by a famous Augsburg banker. it is considered the most impressive Rococco building in Augsburg. Today, it houses the German Baroque Art Gallery and the State Art Gallery.

Fuggeri
This “town” was built by Jacob Fugger the Rich, along with his brothers, to house the impoverished Catholic citizens of Augsburg. The village has 52 houses with 104 apartments. The rent -to this day- is a mere .88 Euros per year. But renters are also bound to say three prayers a day for the founders. It is a fascinating story and a lovely village. There is a Fuggeri Museum on site where one can learn more of this program.

Pubs can be found all around the world, but nowhere are they more a way of life than in Western Europe where they are arguably more popular than bars and replace almost entirely the need for ‘diners’, while bringing with them a particular charm and quirkiness that locals and tourists enjoy equally.

European pubs offer a place to drink during the evening or during the later hours/earlier hours of the morning that can provide relatively cheap alcohol, cheap food, sound levels appropriate for talking and a range of other activities. In England, Germany, Ireland and many other countries European pubs are an institution and a way of life and much of the lifestyle in these areas revolves around them.

The term pub means ‘public house’ and this is very much a part of British culture. In the typical British European pub you will find a bar with drinks that also sell peanuts and crisps and possibly ‘pub lunch’. Other activities in the pub might also include pool, a ‘quiz machine’ (an automated pub quiz that works like an arcade game), slot machines, darts and entertainment such as live bands or organised pub quizzes. During the days and evenings on weekdays people might come here for food and for a few drinks, whereas during the weekends they become more like bars and provide venues that lend themselves to precursors of a night out with louder music and darker lighting.

European pubs in Britain have recently changed to a degree and become more like bras. The chain of pubs ‘Weatherspoons’ that offers discount beer and food has dominated many of the pubs in cities and towns, and the smoking ban and new licensing laws mean that in England at least pubs are open different hours and don’t provide the refuge for smokers that they once did. Still they remain an important part of English culture and their popularity means that you can find many ‘English-style’ and ‘Irish-style’ pubs around the world. For very traditional pubs that serve local ale, pasties and mead, be sure to visit Cornwall in the South.

A beer garden however is a more continental type of European pub. Beer garden comes from the German ‘biergarten’ which is where the concept originates from and means that the pub is essentially an open air area where drinks and food are served. These kinds of European pubs are particularly popular in areas of Southern Germany such as Bavaria and they will normally be a part of a larger drinking establishment such as a beer hall. Though they are most common in Southern Germany however, beer gardens exist throughout Western and Eastern Europe and are particularly popular in warmer European climates.

For travellers looking for cheap yet authentic European food, or for those who want to get some local atmosphere, European pubs or beer gardens are a great place to start.