Augsburg

In the year 1367, the history of the Fugger family in Augsburg began when the weaver Hans Fugger moved from his hometown of Graben to the Imperial City of Augsburg. Through the marketing of textiles, the family quickly rose to become Augsburg's leading merchant family.

Many famous personalities emerged from the Fugger line – including Jakob Fugger the Rich, who maintained close relations with the Habsburgs and became known as the most successful banker of his time through financing transactions.

He was also the one who, starting in 1514, began the targeted acquisition of properties and built 52 houses there for needy Augsburg citizens: the Fuggerei, which still exists today. The world's oldest social housing settlement withstood harrowing crises: the Thirty Years' War, the plague, both World Wars. The commitment of the Fuggers and the residents themselves created a unique residential community over time – definitely worth a visit!

Urmel from the Ice Age, Jim Button, and Luke the Engine Driver: these are just three of the many well-known characters from probably Germany's most famous marionette theatre: the Augsburg Puppet Theater.

The theatre was founded by Walter Oehmichen and his family and has been housed since 1948 in the former Holy Spirit Hospital. In addition to the large museum, where one can admire many of the lovingly crafted puppets from past performances, the regular shows attract a wide audience.

However, the Puppet Theater does not only perform plays for children. Oehmichen also brought many plays from the Augsburg City Theatre to his puppet stage, such as "A Dream Play" by August Strindberg or "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.