Bavaria’s cities are diverse, fascinating and full of surprises. We introduce you to the four biggest – and a few more unknown pearls in addition.
Munich: Metropolis and village at the same time
Nuremberg: Garden culture in the middle of the castle town
Regensburg: Drifting in old alleys
Augsburg: In the footsteps of the rich merchant families
A 2000 year old city in three terms: Fuggerei, Puppenkiste, Golden Hall. Or: streams, canals, Unesco World Heritage. Or: student city, Roman city wall, viewpoint Perlachturm. Heinz Schulan knows them all. Born in Augsburg, he is an actor and theater director and also the cultural ambassador of the Fuggerstadt. Dressed as Jakob Fugger, the best known and richest representative of the famous merchant family, he has been wearing his typical gold cap and historical garb for years and leads guests on entertaining tours through Augsburg. Of course, this also includes the Fuggerei, the oldest social settlement with the ocher-colored terraced houses, which Jakob Fugger donated in 1521 for Catholic citizens who had fallen on hard times through no fault of their own.
Back in the cathedral district, Heinz Schulan heads for his favorite place: the Fugger and Welser Adventure Museum. “I love being in the museum in the former garden house of the Welsers because it so vividly depicts the fabulous history of Augsburg’s two great merchant families. Sea charts come alive with the sound of the sea, showing the fascinating routes that led as far as South America in the Middle Ages.” Speaking of water, Augsburg’s water management system and its monuments – canals and waterworks, hydroelectric power plants and monumental fountains – have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2019. Yet another reason to take part in a guided tour of the Fuggerstadt.
Small town, big city, old town, cosmopolitan city – Bavaria has them all
The four largest cities in the Free State are impressive. But there are also many smaller historic towns waiting between Aschaffenburg and Berchtesgaden, Noerdlingen and Passau waiting to be discovered. Often they lie between mountains, lakes and forests – like Lindau in Allgäu. On rivers – like Kelheim in eastern Bavaria. Surrounded by castles and palaces – like the Franconian Coburg, or on a peninsula – like the Upper Bavarian Wasserburg on the Inn. The cultural routes Romantic Road or German Alpine Road connect many of the smaller and larger cities in Bavaria – ideal for a road trip, perfect for explorers, adventurers and connoisseurs.
