Bus from AUGSBURG to HAMM

Augsburg

Since its foundation by the Roman Emperor Augustus between 15 BC and 8 BC, Augsburg is the crossroads for the most important traffic connections on the continent. Augsburg also owed its great importance to this privileged position in the Middle Ages. The wealthy Fugger family and sea-trading Welser family gave Augsburg reputation of the world city, of the city of the emperors, which was famous for its painters, sculptors and musicians.

Augsburg is the third largest city in Bavaria, mainly a university town, the seat of the government of Swabia, and a major economic center with internationally renowned companies offering state-of-the-art computer technology and electronics.

If you are in Augsburg, you can visit the following:

The Augsburg Town Hall - the landmark of the city's richest citizens: the Augsburg Town Hall is one of the most important Renaissance buildings north of the Alps and is one of the most impressive city halls in Germany. Together with the Perlachturm it is the landmark of the city of Augsburg. Because of its historical importance, it is under consideration of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflicts.

Augsburg  Oldtown - Shopping and exploring in a Mediterranean atmosphere: It is almost like visiting Italy. The Augsburg Oldtown radiates Mediterranean flair. Narrow streets and squares invite you to take a stroll, while on the other hand there are many captivating small restaurants or cafes. There are no large department stores, but only small shops, tanneries, jewelry stores or galleries. If you’re looking for a place to rest, the old town of Augsburg is the right place for you. This is not a coincidence - it is free of transit traffic. Constant companions on the stroll through the Old Town are the Lech canals, which speaks volumes about the importance of water for Augsburg.

The Golden Hall : The Golden Hall is one of the highlights of the interior design of the Renaissance in Germany. He takes its name from the rich gold jewelery that decorates its interior. Originally, the splendid ceiling of the hall was hung with 27 chains on the wooden truss. Today it is attached to a steel stone ceiling. The cover is covered with gold leaf (231/2 carats). The Golden Hall is located on the second floor of the Augsburg Town Hall and is 14 meters high. In 1944 it was completely destroyed, but after a 17-year restoration,  he was finally completed in 1996.

Fuggerei - the oldest social settlement in the world is in Augsburg: This oldest existing social settlement in the world was founded in 1521 by Jakob Fugger for the innocently impoverished Augsburg citizens and it was built between 1514 and 1523. It consists of 67 houses with 140 apartments, a church and administrative buildings. The annual rent is still only 0,88€ (formerly a Rheinischer Gulden). Three prayers daily for the souls of the founder family are an integral part of the tenancy agreement.

The Pearl Tower: With its 70 meters, the Pearl Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Augsburg. In 989 it was built as a watchtower. At that time it was not even half as high as today. In the course of the centuries it experienced numerous transformations. In 1526 it was increased to 63 meters. Shortly thereafter, the tower received a clockwork with a bell. When Elias Holl, the city master builder, rebuilt the city hall, he also placed his hand on the pearl tower. Thus, from 1612 to 1618, it got its present appearance withits columns, roof, and the figure of the city goddess Cisa.

Today is rather controversial where the name "Pearl" comes from. There are three theories, but since none of the three theories are historically documented, the origin of the name will remain a secret forever.

Augsburg has so much to offer and you will not be sorry because you can find pleasure in this center of the historical treasury.

On the eastern outskirts of the Ruhr area lies the city of Hamm, which has many attractions to offer. In the historic town center there are a number of neat buildings from the late baroque like the Town Hall. In addition to the historic buildings, there are numerous industrial monuments in Hamm. In front of the city walls, there are still many settlements. Earlier, mining and the metal industry played an important role. Like many other cities in the region, Hamm has also developed into a cultural and shopping center in recent history.

One of the modern landmarks of the Westphalian metropolis is the Glass Elephant in Maximilianpark Hamm. The Glaselefant is the largest animal figurine building in the world and was presented to the public at the state garden show in 1984. Elephants play a special role in Hamm, since 2004 the elephant parade has taken place. At the time of the parade you will find unique elephant sculptures of artists all over the city. Hamm is well known for the Hindu pilgrimage to the Sri Kamadchi Ampal Temple. Since 1987, the temple is located in the district of Hamm-Uentrop.

Hamm is located in North Rhine-Westphalia on the edge of the Ruhr area and today is a large city in Westphalia with some 182,000 inhabitants. Adjacent to Hamm are cities such as Unna or Ahlen. The next major cities in the region are Münster and Dortmund. Hamm is subdivided into seven parts, including Hamm-Mitte and Hamm-Uentrop with the Kurpark. The cityscape is dominated by the past state garden show and former coal mines. The townscape in Hamm is also heavily influenced by the "Ecological City of the Future" model project. Since the 1990s many areas have been ecologically valuable. The cities selected for the project included Aachen and Herne.

Most of the sights in the Westphalian metropolis can be found in the historical Old town. Among the prominent buildings in the city are the Town hall, the Main railway station and the Bürgerhaus Preschool in the late Baroque. You can get to know the impressive history of Hamm in the Gustav-Lübcke-Museum.

The center of the city is the pedestrian zone, which stretches over one kilometer at the historic market square. The most imposing ecclesiastical building is the 13th-century Paul church, a landmark of Hamm. The medieval city wall is preserved in few parts. In Hamm one finds a very high density of religious buildings. The most famous building is probably the Hindu temple, the largest temple in Europe in southern Dravida style.

The Westfalenmetropole offers a lot of leisure possibilities. The tradition of Hamm as a bath reflects the Maximare experience. Popular with locals and visitors is the Maximilianpark with its beautiful park land. A highlight in the park is the Butterfly Park. One of the destinations of families with children is the Hamm animal park in the Grünstraße, which is mainly specialized in the keeping of wild cats and monkeys. The Petting zoo is especially popular with the youngest. Hamm also offers excursions on the water. There are four channels in the city and the surrounding area. For canoeists, the route between Hamm and Lippstadt is popular, one of the most beautiful hiking trails in North Rhine-Westphalia.