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Tour · Old town on foot · Augsburg

Water Towers, Ramparts, and Alleys: Exploring Jakobervorstadt and the Lech Quarter on Foot

A day's stroll off the beaten path of Augsburg's big classics: through Jakobervorstadt with the Brecht House, remnants of the city wall, and water towers, then past the Holbein House and down Maximilianstrasse into the Lech Quarter to the historic water towers at the Rotes Tor. All stops are within walking distance, and the day winds down at a cocktail bar in the southern Old Town.

Stops
14
Time
10:00–19:00
On foot
approx. 5.5 km
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This tour shows you Augsburg beyond the Town Hall and the Cathedral: it leads through Jakobervorstadt and the Lech Quarter, two Old Town neighborhoods shaped by canals, artisans' houses, and remnants of the city fortifications. The focus is on water, which for centuries powered mills and fed fountains here and is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

You start at the Stadtmetzg below the Perlachberg and cross the Barfüsserbrücke to the Brecht House, where you get a glimpse of the poet's youth. Then you wind through the alleys of Jakobervorstadt to the Fünfgratturm and the St. Jakob Water Tower, and continue along the green Jakober Wall to the Vogeltor. Past the Holbein House you reach Maximilianstrasse, where you have lunch and take in the Mercury Fountain and Fuggerplatz. In the afternoon you follow the canals down into the Lech Quarter to the historic water towers at the Rotes Tor and the Brunnenmeisterhaus. The tour ends at a cocktail bar at the southern end of Maximilianstrasse.

The tour is a good fit if you already know the basics of Augsburg or would rather discover quieter corners than the big crowd-pullers. All the stops are close together, no transportation is needed, and the pace leaves room for detours into side streets and breaks by the water.

From the Perlachberg through Jakobervorstadt to the Rotes Tor

  1. Visit · Historic sites · Jakobervorstadt-Nord

    1Stadtmetzg Augsburg

    A Renaissance building by city architect Elias Holl right at the edge of the Old Town, and a good starting point for taking in the facade at your leisure.

  2. on foot 2 min · 140 m
    Visit · Monuments · Jakobervorstadt-Nord

    2Barfüsserbrücke

    Here you cross one of the Lech canals that shape the neighborhood; stop briefly for a look at the water.

  3. on foot 1 min · 80 m
    Visit · History museums · Jakobervorstadt-Nord

    3Brechthaus

    Bertolt Brecht's birthplace on a canal; small exhibition, check opening hours in advance (often closed on Mondays).

  4. on foot 11 min · 850 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Jakobervorstadt-Nord

    4Fünfgratturm

    A striking tower of the old city fortifications with five gables, best photographed from the outside.

  5. on foot 2 min · 150 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Jakobervorstadt-Nord

    5St.-Jakobs-Wasserturm

    Just a few steps away, it shows how early Augsburg organized its water supply.

  6. on foot 11 min · 900 m
    Visit · Historic sites

    6Jakober Wall

    A green stretch of the former city fortifications, pleasant for walking; the path takes you south along the wall.

  7. on foot 8 min · 630 m
    Visit · Historic sites

    7Vogeltor Torturm in Augsburg

    A preserved gate tower at the end of the wall, and a nice transition back toward the heart of the Old Town.

  8. on foot 3 min · 250 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Augsburg-Lechviertel, östliches Ulrichsviertel

    8Holbeinhaus

    Site of the residence of the Holbein family of painters in the Lech Quarter; a quick look is enough.

  9. on foot 3 min · 250 m
    9
    Meal · Italian · Innenstadt, St. Ulrich-Dom

    9Ristorante Massimiliano

    Italian right on Maximilianstrasse, just a few minutes from the Holbein House; consider reserving at lunchtime.

  10. on foot 1 min · 80 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Augsburg-Lechviertel, östliches Ulrichsviertel

    10Merkurbrunnen

    One of the splendid fountains of Maximilianstrasse, with a bronze figure from around 1600.

  11. on foot 2 min · 160 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Innenstadt, St. Ulrich-Dom

    11Fuggerplatz

    A small square on Maximilianstrasse framed by merchants' houses, and a good spot for a short breather.

  12. on foot 16 min · 1.3 km
    Visit · Historic sites · Augsburg-Lechviertel, östliches Ulrichsviertel

    12Historische Wassertürme am Roten Tor

    Part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Augsburg's water management system; tours only at certain times, so check in advance.

  13. on foot 1 min · 10 m
    Visit · Monuments · Augsburg-Lechviertel, östliches Ulrichsviertel

    13Oberes Brunnenmeisterhaus

    The former residence and workplace of the fountain masters right next to the towers, which complements the water towers thematically.

  14. ·
    Break

    Short walk back to the Old Town

    A leisurely walk north, about 10 minutes.

  15. on foot 9 min · 720 m
    14
    Bar · Cocktail bars · Augsburg-Lechviertel, östliches Ulrichsviertel

    14Peaches Augsburg

    Cocktail bar at the southern end of Maximilianstrasse; check opening hours in advance, as some bars only open in the evening.

Good to know

  • The distances are short, but the Lech Quarter sits lower than Maximilianstrasse, so plan on comfortable shoes.
  • Check the opening hours of the Brecht House and the water towers in advance, as both are often closed on Mondays and tower tours only run at set times.
  • If you have extra time, you can add a detour from the Fünfgratturm to the nearby Fuggerei.
  • The canals are at their prettiest along small side alleys, so don't hesitate to stray from the main route.

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Automatically compiled from travelguide195 places (as of 11/05/2026). Travel times are estimated from distance; please check opening hours in advance.

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