Augsburg

Currently with a population of around 300,000, Augsburg is Bavaria's third-largest and probably oldest city, whose history as the present capital of the Swabian administrative district can be traced back to the Roman settlement of Augusta Vindelicum over 2,000 years ago. Augsburg became extremely powerful as an independent imperial city in the late 13th century and achieved almost fairytale prosperity thanks to local patrician families such as Fugger and Welser. With the huge profits from long-distance trade, many imposing churches were built, including the Gothic Basilica of St. Ulrich and Afra and the Barfüßerkirche. Visitors can see as far as the Alps from the viewing platform of the 17th century Perlach Tower on Rathausplatz. More than 1 million guests regularly make the pilgrimage to the "Plärrer" folk festival, which is celebrated twice a year.