ELSA Augsburg

Augsburg is the third-largest city in Bavaria (after Munich and Nuremberg) with a population of approximately 286,000 citizens. Augsburg is Germany's third oldest city, after Neuss and Trier – it was founded by the Romans (Augsusta Vindelicorum) and named after the Roma emperor Augustus. In addition, Augsburg is the only German city with its own legal holiday, the Augsburger Hohes Friedensfest, celebrated on August 8 every year. Augsburg was granted the status of a Free imperial City on March 9, 1276. With a strategic location as intersection of trade routes to Italy, the Free Imperial City became a major trading center. Augsburg produced large quantities of woven goods, cloth and textiles. Our city was the home of two patrician families, the Fugger and the Welser families. The Fugger family donated the Fuggerei part of the city devoted to housing for needy citizens, which remains in use today. In 1530, the Augsburg Confession was presented to the Holy Roman Emperor at the Diet of Augsburg. Following the Peace of Augsburg in 1555, after which the rights of religious minorities in imperial cities were to be legally protected, a mixed Catholic - Protestant city council presided over a majority Protestant population.