Fuggerhaus

The Fugger Houses on Augsburg's Maximilianstrasse were built between 1512 and 1515 as the city residence of the influential banking family. Jakob Fugger the Rich designed the complex himself, drawing on Italian models, which makes it the first Renaissance-style building north of the Alps. The long facade reflected the family's enormous wealth, since building taxes were calculated by frontage length. The site is also historically significant as the place where Martin Luther met Cardinal Cajetan in 1518, and where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gave a concert in the 18th century.

After heavy destruction in World War II, the building was reconstructed in the early 1950s and is now owned by the Fugger-Babenhausen family. Visitors cannot enter the entire complex, but they can see two of the four inner courtyards. The Ladies' Courtyard (Damenhof) is considered one of the most beautiful in Germany, with arcaded walkways supported by Tuscan columns and magnificently painted arches. It originally served as a private garden for the women of the family.

Another area worth seeing is the Serenade Courtyard (Serenadenhof). You enter the complex through the striking Eagle Gate (Adlertor), which now serves as the entrance to the Fürst Fugger Privatbank. Near the Eagle Gate is a ground-floor hall with three aisles and a groin vault, now occupied by a bookstore. From there you have a view of the adjoining Ladies' Courtyard, which impressively captures the historic character of the city palace.