The imperial city of Augsburg (Augsburg), at the beginning of the 16th century, built a city wall with mighty bastions that surrounded the city, themselves protected by moats and historic canals where water still flows today. Eleven gates were built into the walls, of which five can still be admired today.
What to see in Augsburg
The historic city walls were largely demolished in the 19th century, but the remains of the old fortifications of the city can still be visited at various points in Augsburg. The completely intact area of the city walls covers a total length of about four kilometers. Restoration work is currently underway in some parts of the old town walls.
Wertachbrucker Gate
At the edge of Augsburg’s historic center is a gate, called the Wertachbrucker Tor, originally built in Gothic style around 1370. In 1605, the master architect of the imperial city of Augsburg, Elias Holl, restored and redesigned the gate in Renaissance style. In 1805 Napoleon passed right through this gate of the city of Augsburg. A year later, the city became part of Bavaria, which had been allied with Napoleon during the military campaign that brought the French Emperor the historic victories of Ulm and Austerlitz.
Fischertor Gate
In the northwest of Augsburg’s old town, you can visit the Fischertor Gate. From the gate, a narrow staircase leads to the city walls, passing the witches’ fountain, a wooden sculpture about which legend says it was the place where witches drank for the last time before their capital punishment. From this point, you reach the former bastion Luginsland. The building is listed among the Bavarian historic monuments, and from its top, you can admire a splendid view of Augsburg.
From this former watchtower, descending a few steps, you arrive at a moat and, continuing along the city wall tour, you can admire the Schwedenstiege, a masonry staircase, where one of Augsburg’s symbols is located, the Stoinernen Ma, a life-size stone figure commemorating the Thirty Years’ War.
Venetian Fountain
At the foot of this staircase is the Venetian fountain, so called because it was built in Venetian style. It is one of the fountains of the Stadtwerke Augsburg, the municipal utility company, where you can drink Augsburg’s excellent water for free. Throughout the city it is possible to drink from twenty-two public fountains. A pleasant refreshment particularly appreciated by citizens and visitors during the hot summer.
Augsburger Kahnfahrt: dining and boat rental
Crossing the street towards Bert-Brecht-Straße, you arrive at the Augsburger Kahnfahrt, a traditional restaurant offering an outdoor brewery and the opportunity to rent boats. For over one hundred years, part of the outer canal has been accessible by boat. Immediately afterwards begins the Oblatterwall, another famous former bastion of Augsburg’s walls. These places are famous also because they were dear to the young high school student Bertholt Brecht, born in Augsburg in 1898.
Jakobertor Gate
Continuing the visit, you reach the Jakobertor gate and, further on, continuing along the Obere Jakobermauer and Vogelmauer walls, you arrive at the Vogeltor gate. Following the stream of the ancient moat, you climb back towards the upper town and arrive at the Red Gate. In front of the Red Gate, on the right, you can admire the artisans’ courtyard, where you can visit and understand the historic and sophisticated technology of the Red Gate Water Towers.
This architectural complex, part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2019, consists of the Great Water Tower, the Small Water Tower, and a third tower, which served to supply water to the fountains.
Artisans’ Courtyard, Augsburg
