Fuggerei

It was a wonderful experience visiting the world’s oldest public housing. We went on a weekday morning, and the atmosphere was calm and peaceful, which made exploring even more enjoyable. Purchasing the ticket at the entrance was simple, and the site itself was easy to navigate. The area is beautifully maintained, with so much attention to detail that you really feel immersed in its rich history. Walking through the space gives you a true sense of cultural heritage, and it’s both educational and inspiring. I would definitely recommend this visit to anyone interested in culture and history—it’s a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience something truly special.

Really cool to hear about how this social housing was started. The people can live here for €1 per year, and just have to be Catholic, pray everyday, and be in need. It’s definitely worth the €8 entrance fee.

Went on a Augsburg Fugger Tour. Last stop was the Fuggerei. Have always been curious about it and it's history. Quite amazing that it still exists till this day an age and functioning the same way it always has. Absolutely incredible. The grounds are extremely well kept and just a beautiful part of living history. Must go when you visit Augsburg. After the tour you can also visit tiny beer garden by the entrance.

Such a unique and interesting place! It’s the world’s oldest social housing complex, and you can really feel the history walking through the little streets. The apartments are tiny and cozy, and it’s cool to see how people lived here for the past hundreds of years and so. Keep in mind though that people still live there! There’s also a few little museums inside some of the residences that go over the story of how the place started, how they lived, struggles, etc. As well as a bunker that you can explore. Definitely worth a quick visit if you’re in Augsburg!

Fuggerei in Augsburg is often touted as a must-see historical site, but unless you’re deeply interested in social housing history, it’s largely underwhelming. The quaint buildings and quiet atmosphere feel more like a sleepy neighborhood than a captivating attraction. The real standout is the WWII bunker—an unexpectedly compelling and haunting part of the visit. It offers a chilling, immersive look into wartime life and far surpasses the rest of the experience. If you’re nearby and curious, stop by for the bunker, but otherwise, it’s probably not worth going out of your way.

Walking through the narrow streets and seeing the colorful, well-kept houses takes you back to the 16th century. It's fascinating how this complex has been functioning for so many centuries and still preserves the spirit of community and history. I especially liked that the entrance fee isn’t expensive, and with the audio guide, you can truly understand the significance of the place. Ideal for history lovers and those who enjoy a peaceful stroll.

a residential complex from 16th century for the catholic people in Augsburg in need. now also is a museum to visit with church and a bunker. interesting to see how they founded the place and the historical phases which passed.

The Fuggerei is the Augsburgian experience. It is the oldest social housing complex in the world with traditional medivael architecture: a reminiscence to William Morris' News from Nowhere. There are a variety of small museums to visit. One can take a break by sitting on one of the park benches and discuss the history this complex has survived. If you're new or just passing by, I highly recommend visiting.

It's fairly hard to imagine that an extremely wealthy and influential family decided to dedicate a cluster 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 history, 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.

I came here on a visit to a friend who lives in Augsburg in August of this year. It's a fascinating living landmark, the oldest social settlement in Europe still houses residents. Originally started as housing for the poor, the Fuggerei endured through multiple wars and social and economical changes in the world around it. It's entirely doable as a self-guided tour, with signs in both German and English. There's even a model home that you can tour though to get a good sense of what it is like to live there. I recommend it to anyone visiting the area, especially as it's near the old center of town, so it's very close to the shopping and dining district as well.