It's fairly hard to imagine that an extremely wealthy and influential family decided to dedicate a…read morecluster of housing, meant to mimic a small city, to those living in poverty in early 16th century Europe. Well, the Fugger family did just that and its 'experiment' in social housing has lasted for almost five hundred years. Visitors are able to view a 'model dwelling' decorated as it would have been during the genesis of this project. In an adjacent room a film (auf Deutsch) about the Fugger family and how it came to create the Fuggerei runs on a loop. Pamphlets at the entrance are offered in a multiplicity of languages (including Chinese and Japanese), so non-German speakers are also able to gain a solid understanding of what's what. The on-site WW II bunker is quite worth a visit. One sees how the Fuggerei was severely damaged during the war and how quickly and determinedly those in charge decided to rebuild. While I very much enjoyed visiting the Fuggerei, I was constantly aware of walking around a complex in which people live. One is cautioned to be respectful and to not 'take pictures'. It's hard not to look at the facades of all the buildings when one walks by them. Well, it's hard for me, at least. Being a fan of architecture, I walked the streets of Augsburg en route to the Fuggerei pretty much doing the same thing. I happened to walk past a small boy kicking a soccer ball around, presumably, the front of his Fugger flat. He scowled at me when I passed him. That's when I decided it was time for me to go. There is information regarding who is eligible to live at the Fuggerei (adherents to the Catholic faith) and how much one pays (0,88 euro annually & three prayers daily, apparently). What I wasn't able to find out was how one is picked to live on premises. Not that I'd qualify...

This is a must-see for any visitor to Augsburg. I learned so much about Augsburger history, German…read morehistory, European history, social history...HISTORY. The story of the Fuggerei - a "social settlement" started during the late Middle Ages/early Renaissance by Jakob Fugger to help the poor and disenfranchised get their feet back under them and become self-sufficient citizens during a time where social Darwinism and caste-like class stratification were ravaging Europe - is one that will touch your heart and provide leagues of depth to your big picture understanding of life. It doesn't take long to come here, but the impact will stay with you for life. Added benefit: Almost everything that's written down is also translated into English.

Schwäbisch Hall or Hall for short was first mentioned in a document dating from 1063. It's…read moreunclear, but Hall possibly refers to the open-pan salt making method used there until the saltworks closed down in 1925. Salt was produced from brine by the Celts at the site of Schwäbisch Hall as early as the fifth century BC. Hall flourished through the production of salt and coins after imperial mint was founded by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. Hall became a Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire around 1280. From the 14th to the 16th centuries, Hall systematically acquired a large territory in the surrounding area, mostly from noble families and the Comburg Monastery. The wealth of this era can still be seen in some gothic buildings like St. Michael's Church (rebuilt 1427-1526) with its impressive stairway (1507). The town joined the Protestant Reformation very early. Johannes Brenz, a follower of Martin Luther, was made pastor of St. Michael's Church in 1522 and quickly began to reform the church and the school system along Lutheran lines. Hall suffered severely during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) though it was never besieged or scene of a battle. However, it was forced to pay enormous sums to the armies of the various parties, especially to the imperial, Swedish and French troops. Between 1634 and 1638 every fifth inhabitant died of hunger and disease, especially from the bubonic plague. The war left the town an impoverished and economically ruined place, but with the help of reorganizations of salt production and trade and a growing wine trade, there was an astonishingly fast recovery. The Napoleonic wars brought the history of Hall as a Free Imperial City to an end. Following the Treaty of Lunéville (1801), the duke of Württemberg was allowed by Napoleon to occupy the town and several other minor states as a compensation for territories on the Left Bank of the Rhine that fell to France. Although Swäbisch Hall doesn't have any medieval fortifications walls surrounding it like Rothenburg o. d. T. or Dinkelsbühl, it certainly provides a very quaint medieval atmosphere with its numerous half-timbered houses and buildings, cobble stone streets, massive Gothic church on the hill, and Kocher River running through it. You can certainly enjoy strolling and wandering in this town for hours imagining how one's life might have been during those days. You'll enjoy visiting this town.

The city wall of Dinkelsbühl is one of three well-preserved medieval city fortification walls in…read morethe area that encircle the entire old towns; incidentally, other two towns are Nördlingen and Rothenburg o. d. Tauber. It's always so much fun to walk around these medieval towns imagining how the life might have been lived within these walls. A circular hiking trail (about 2.6 km) leads around the entire medieval city wall of Dinkelsbühl, mostly right along the wall. The western part of the fortification is particularly impressive. Due to the hillside location, the double wall built on the deep moat has a staggered height. We have King Ludwig I of Bavaria to thank for our pleasures of walking on the entire city wall around this fantastic medieval town since he placed the wall under his protection and prohibited for demolition in 1826. It's a must stop when you are visiting this area. There is a free parking lot available outside the city wall at every town gate for your convenience. To this day, all road traffic in and out of the city only goes through the four medieval city gates. Of course, you always have to watch out for oncoming traffic. This is probably one of the reasons why large parking lots were built for visitors and tourists in front of each gate. This is very practical, especially since you can park right in front of the first attractions you see as you enter the old town. The Segringertor already existed in 1384. During renovations in the 17th century, the gate tower was given its current baroque dome. There is a small, at first glance somewhat inconspicuous, Chapel of the Three Kings built in 1378 near the gate tower. Today the church houses a memorial for the victims of the Nazi regime. The Rothenburgertor was built around 1390 and has its original appearance to this day, which is why this gate can only be passed in one direction by car. The Wörnitztor with humpback blocks from the Staufer period is the oldest of the four city gates. The tower was raised at the end of the 14th century. The renaissance gable with bell tower dates from the 16th century. On the outside, as on all four city gates, there is the coat of arms of the imperial city of Dinkelsbühl - three golden ears of dinkel (wheat) on three hills. In addition, the imperial eagle is shown as a symbol of imperial involvement. The Nördlingertor (around 1400) is adorned with a stepped gable with half-shells (16th century). This town appears to be a lot less commercialized (it almost seems the town keeps it that way to discourage herd of tourists pouring in to this town) especially compared to Rothenburg. You will enjoy quietness of this town as you wander in and out of the city wall. If you had one to one and half hour of your time, you can enjoy a very leisurely stroll around this town.

This place is definitely a MUST SEE while you're visiting or living here. Its open to walk around…read morein, in the summer. During winter, they lock it off so there is no access. You may drive right up to it, park and explore. In the summer, the "keep" is open for a small donation so you can see such amazing views. The rest of the area is open for Frei. This is one of my most favorite and unique places to come.

Ok it's not the office that is getting the 5 stars but the Rathaus itself. Beautiful building with…read morefabulous architecture and paintings on the outside. Ulm is well worth a visit as it had gorgeous medieval buildings and streets and houses. Amazing :-)