 n May 2002 I decided to take some photograph's
around the City of Augsburg in Germany. I thought that it might be a good idea,
as I had lived there for over two years by this time and was yet to take a
single snap of the place. And as all contractors now seem to realise... nothing
lasts forever! So I thought that at some point I am going to need something to
remember the old place by; when I am stuck in a little permie job far far away,
staring at a computer screen somewhere, with my memory of all the good times
fading fast, due to the over excess of my workload, I would need a nice little
jpeg to click on, to bring a little cheer back to my life. It hasn't quite
panned out that way, I had the right idea. Anyway that's the reasoning over
with, and away we go...
I have split the page into three categories to assist in viewing,
Augsburg City,
Place of
Work,
and
My Apartment & View...
The Weberhaus & the
Town Palace
The Weberhaus, the
guildhall of the weavers (In medieval times, all the buildings of
Maximilianstrasse were painted in bright multi colours)
The Town Palace on
Maximilianstraße was newly constructed by the merchant Jacob fugger between 1512
and 1515
The Hercules
Fountain & Schaezler Palace
Designed by Lespilliez and completed in l770. Considered the most impressive
Rococo work in Augsburg.
The centrepiece is the 23-metre long Rococo ballroom with carved decorations,
stucco work, wall mirrors and a ceiling painting by Gugliemi. The Schaezler
Palace today houses the German Baroque Gallery and the State Gallery
St. Ulrich's & Afra
There are two churches, both named Ulrich and Afra. One is Roman Catholic, the
other Lutheran--the duality is a result of the Peace of Augsburg concluded in
1555 between Catholics and Protestants.
Construction of the larger structure begun in 1474 with the abbey church of the
Benedictine monks. Choir with three massive altars and the Crucifixion altar
completed in 16th/17th c. Onion-domed tower is 93 m high. Late gothic basilica
richly appointed in Renaissance and Baroque styles: an elaborate wrought-iron
grille, numerous works of art, and the burial vaults of Augsburg's patron saints
Afra, Ulrich and Simpert
A Little History of
the 2nd Oldest German City
As the second oldest city in Germany (after Trier) Augsburg’s immortality is
undeniable. Augsburg is a city that has abided to a higher standard since
Emperor Augustus reign in 15 B.C. The Romans invested enough money and time into
the area next to the River Lech to make Augsburg the most powerful military camp
in the new empire under Augustus
The historic
buildings on Maximilianstraße
The story so far...
Ever since its founding by
Caesar Augustus - after whom it was named, the town of Augsburg has stood at the
Intersection of some of the most important trade and travel routes on the
Continent. Even in the Middle Ages the city owed its great importance to his
favoured position. In the 13th century the citizens achieved for the old
cathedral town of Augsburg the status of a free city in the Holy Roman Empire (Reichsstadt).
The Welsers with their shipping interests and the rich and influential Fuggers
helped to turn Augsburg into a city of international importance: a city of
emperors and a venue for imperial diets, the home and workplace of famous
artists, sculptors and composers
The face of Augsburg has been shaped by its 2000-year history and within it the
styles of all the major architectural periods are to be found. Fine spacious
streets, monumental fountains and distinctive public buildings recall the
profound thought and planning of the earlier citizens of Augsburg
The Renaissance remains one of the high points of the city's cultural history;
at that time Augsburg was a centre of architecture, music and painting. The
ancestors of Holbein and Mozart lived for centuries in the city and its
hinterland. The rococo style was in its time described as the "Augsburg style".
Today, concerts in magnificent old halls, open-air opera at the Rotes Tor, art
exhibitions, museums and churches are just as much the goal of international
tourists as are the Fuggerei, the Schaezlerpalais, the Mozart House or the Bert
Brecht House
Augsburg is the third largest city in Bavaria, a university city, the seat of
the Swabian government and an important economic centre where internationally
renowned companies offer state-of-the-art computer and electronic technology
Since 1237 the city has displayed the pine cone on its coat-of-arms. The city
emblem recalls its numerous representations in stone from Augsburg's era as a
Roman capital, being displayed, for an example, on the Roman wall on the Fronhof
Through the Red
Gate...
Rotes Tor - Red Gate
The open air theatre
at Rotes Tor
A bit of a church...
A view around the
Rathausplatz
The Rathaus &
Perlach Tower
The Rathaus, or Town
Hall, was built by the City Architect Elias Holl between 1615 and 1620.
Most important secular Renaissance structure north of the Alps. Expresses the
self-assurance of the then Free Imperial City of Augsburg. Severly damaged in
1944 in an air raid. Reconstruction of the facade after WWII and of the interior
in 1962. In 1985, on the occasion of Augsburg´s 2000-year jubilee, the Golden
Hall, with its imposing portals, gold-leaf coffered ceilings and murals, was
extensively restored
The Perlach Tower
and Rathaus are Augsburg´s landmarks. The tower rises above the west choir of
the collegiate church of St. Peter am Perlach, built in 1182 and altered in the
18th century.
The base of the tower is from 11th/12th c.,and the belfrey and cupola are the
work of Elias Holl from 1614.
Over 70 meters high, the tower offers good views on clear days, signaled by the
flying of a yellow flag
Robert at
Rathausplatz, with the Rathaus in the backdrop
Augustus fountain &
the Maximilianmuseum
The three magnificent fountains of Augsburg that were erected on the occasion of
the city’s 1600 anniversary represent the three estates of the free imperial
town:
the masters (Augustus fountain)
the merchants (Mercurius fountain)
the craftsmen (Hercules fountain)
Cathedral City...
The hill...
Augsburg Cathedral
There are records from as early as 823 AD for the history of the cathedral
(Dom). The oldest section is probably the crypt beneath the west choir, laid out
in the 10th c. under Bishop Ulrich
Noteworthy are romanesque and gothic frescoes, lovely painted vaults, and four
panel paintings by Holbein the Elder. The windows of the prophets Jonas, Daniel,
Hosea and Moses are examples of the oldest representative stained glass in
Germany (attr. middle 12th c.). The south bronze door (ca. 1356) comprises 35
bas-relief panels featuring scenes from the Old Testament. In front of the
cathedral are remains of the foundation of St. John's church (10th c.) and
relics from Roman Augsburg (Roman wall)
Remains of St John's
Church
Heading for the
Bishop's Residence
The Bishop's
Residence
Built between 1743 and 1777 on the site of the imperial palace. Only the tower
remains from the middle ages; it was made higher in 1507. On 25 June l530, the
Augsburg Confession (the cornerstone of Lutheran belief) was proclaimed in the
former chapter room. The Residence is today the Headquarters of the Swabian
Administrative Authority
The Hofgarten of the
Residence
Around Town...
The Theatre on
Fuggerstraße
Robert outside the
Theatre of Augsburg
St. Anna
Founded in 1321 by Carmelite monks as a monastery and church. Enlarged at the
end of the 15th c. and redesigned between 1747 and 1749). The Goldsmith's
chapel, with its gothic murals was added in 1420-1496. Later conversion into a
Lutheran church. The burial chapel of the Fuggers is considered the earliest
example of Renaissance architecture in Germany. There are valuable paintings by
Lukas Cranach and Jörg Breu, the pulpit is by Heinrich Eichler and the
spire(1607) by Elias Holl. A documentation of the beginnings of the Reformation
in Augsburg can be found in the "Luther Staircase"
From the
Rathausplatz...
Some colourful
shopping...
Zeughaus
Formerly the city armoury, built in 1607 by Elias Holl. Splendid mannerist
facade by Joseph Heintz. Statuary group of St. Michael by Hans Reichle, cast by
Wolfgang Neidhart. In 1806, the Zeughaus became the property of the
kingdom of Bavaria. In 1895, the city bought it back. Since renovation (1978 -
80), used for adult education and exhibitions in the Toskanische Säulenhalle
The tram station at
Königsplatz, and a view to the theatre down Fuggerstraße
Königsplatz
Wheel of Fortune
Fuggerei
Known as the "Town within a Town". Founded in 1516 by Jakob Fugger the Rich and
his brothers as the world's first social settlement for hardworking, honest but
impoverished citizens who were Catholic
The settlement comprises 67 two-storey structures housing 147 appartments, a
church and a simple, elegant fountain. The yearly rent is, to this day, one
Rhinish Gulden - equivalent to about €0.88. Daily recitation of The Lord´s
Prayer for the founders remains part of the house rules
Some unusual
Augsburg architecture...
Wertach Brucker Tor
Kahn Fahrt... Are
you sure you spelt that right?
Alten Towers...
without the cues!
Augsburg is twinned
with the following towns worldwide:-
Bourges (France),
Inverness (Scotland), Amagasaki (Japan), Nagahama (Japan), Dayton (America,
Liberec (Czech Republic)
Korina at
the Bishop's Residence
Korina at the
Fronhof
Robert & Korina at
the Rathausplatz
The 5* Steigenberger
"Drei Mohren" Hotel is located in the very heart of Augsburg, situated on
Maximilianstraße
The Drei Mohren Hotel is a traditional building that offers a very special
combination of luxury and modern comfort. Situated in Augburg's splendid
boulevard and built in 1723 by the royal court architect, Gunetzrhainer, it is a
well-known architectural landmark both within and beyond Europe. The hotel first
appeared in the history books in 1730 when the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm I
visited it. Enjoy the atmosphere of this "aristocratic house" and make it your
base from which to discover the highlights of the wonderful "Fugger" city of
Augsburg
Robert & Korina
outside the Kongreshalle & Dorint Hotel Turm
From a distance...
Around Work...
Haunstetten Straße
Back to front
This is the European
Aeronautic Defence & Space Company where I worked in Augsburg
A view of and from
the Dorint Hotel Turm, which is situated in the Göggingen region of Augsburg, at
the intersection of Gögginger Straße and Imhofstraße
Compare the height
of this building to others by visiting the
SkyScraper page here!
This is a view from
the balcony of my apartment on the 29th floor of the Hotel Turm, I was in
apartment 2908
The Hauptbahnof, the
Rathaus & Perlach Tower, and St
Ulrich's Church
Sunrise over the not
so far east... St Ulrich's Church
The Wittelsbacher
Park around the Tower
Augsburg was the
setting for the canoeing event at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The event
was held at the purpose built Kanuslalom-Olympiastrecke - ice canal. The course
is 600m long, located in the middle of the prettiest recreational area of the
city of Augsburg on the river Lech; it is equipped with artificial concrete
hindrances
The Hotel Turm was
originally built as a hotel in 1972, but during the 1980's was split into a
hotel, a number of apartments, and some commercial premises. The tower was
totally refurbished between 2000-2001. The complex is made up of the Hotel Turm,
the Kongresszentrum and the Wittelsbacher Park
The Tower has 35
floors in total:-
The 4* Dorint Hotel
lies between the 1st & 11th and floors, floors 12 to 33 are Appartments, the
34th floor is for conferencing, and the top floor, 35 is the home of Klassik-radio
A local nickname for
the hotel tower is "Maiskolben", due to its cylindrical form looking like a cob
of corn. My friends and I used to call it "Devils Tower"; there were two reasons
for this, the first was that before it's refurbishment in 2000, it had gained a
bad reputation for housing cockroaches, lady's of the night, and a number of
other undesirables; and secondly because it looks a little like a man made
version of the Tower in Wyoming, which starred in the film "Close Encounters of
the Third Kind", which is a dormant volcano called "Devils Tower"
The Gardens of the
Hotel Turm & Kongresshalle
The City
Landscape...
A view over the
Augsburg region of Haunstetten... also Munich is a little further down that way
too!
As are the Alps...
if you take a closer look!
I'm sure Munich is
there somewhere?
It's down hill all
the way from here...
Augsburg
Hauptbahnof...
This is a main line
route, linking Munich to Nürnberg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg,
Bremen etc, basically everywhere North!
I'm on top of the
world ma'...
Although there are
some pictures of the Alps, it was quite unusual to see them. Basically it had to
be a really clear day, and the sun had to be at a certain angle, to create a
reflection off of them to enable viewing
Robert in freefall...
The Rathaus &
Perlach Tower
I have got to say
that the view from the balcony was absolutely amazing, It was the only reason
why I lived in the apartment. When I went around to view it, I didn't look at
the kitchen bathroom, living room or bedroom, just the balcony, and decided to
take it straight away
Certainly A Room with a
View...
The Augsburg Hotel
Tower is based upon...
The Marina City in
Chicago, Illinois, USA by Bertrand Goldberg
The Marina City, in 1959, was a
thirty-six-million- dollar project built on only three acres of land in the
heart of Chicago's Loop. A dramatic landmark in the Chicago skyline, it
culminated thirty years of thought and development for Goldberg. Each of the
twin, sixty-story towers had four hundred and fifty apartments in its upper
two-thirds, with the lower third a continuous parking ramp that spirals upwards,
accommodating four hundred and fifty automobiles. Since the residential level
starts at the twenty-first story, magnificent views of the city are enjoyed from
every apartment. The towers are as popular with Chicagoans as the 'corn on the
cob' they are caricatured as in Goldberg's office
"For many years Goldberg had felt there were advantages in the use of circular
forms: the aerodynamic properties in a cylindrical high-rise structure; the
structural equidistance from the center, and therefore uniform function of all
parts; the absence of special corner conditions; and the creation of centrifugal
or 'kinetic' spaces resulting from non-parallel walls. The towers derive much of
their rigidity from the 35-foot-diameter cylindrical core that houses each
building's services and utilities like a vertical street. Service spaces in
apartments were grouped toward this core, giving living areas the light and
view. The construction of the core preceded that of the floors, providing a
rising foundation for the erection crane, thereby saving many working days. The
project is all-electric, with heat and hot water individually produced in each
apartment
"The other elements of the 'city within a city' are a sixteen-story office
building; a one- thousand-seven-hundred-and-fifty-seat theater and a
seven-hundred-seat auditorium; stores, restaurants, bowling alleys; a gymnasium,
swimming pool and skating rink; a marina for seven hundred small craft; and a
sculpture garden at the base of the towers—all overlooking the Chicago River.
Built for an economical ten to twelve dollars a square foot, Marina City is
Goldberg's response to the urgencies of urban redevelopment..."
"When built, this development's two audacious, 60-story, petal-ringed towers
were the tallest residential buildings and tallest concrete structures in the
world. Twenty stories of parking space are provided on the lower levels of the
towers, while space for offices, shops, and a marina are supplied in a complex
of facilities nearby"
For more pictures of
the Hotel Turm & the Twin Towers in Chiacgo,
Click Here!
All photographs were taken in
Augsburg - Germany from the 2nd to the 5th of May 2002
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