Fuggerei, Public housing complex in Augsburg, Germany
The Fuggerei is a social housing settlement in Augsburg with 67 brick buildings and 147 apartments, each with its own entrance and bathroom. The two-story houses stand along eight lanes and are surrounded by a wall that separates the grounds from the city center.
Jakob Fugger the Rich founded the complex in 1521 as a foundation for needy Catholic craftsmen and their families. The neighborhood destroyed by bombing raids during World War II was rebuilt afterward according to old plans.
The three gates painted in white plaster close every evening at 10 p.m. and connect the eight lanes of the settlement with the city. Residents today use the common rooms and the small church for meetings and services.
A museum and a show apartment are located within the walls and display the daily life of residents across the centuries. Visitors can walk through the lanes and view the complex from the outside, though access to residential areas is not permitted.
The night watchman opens the gates after 10 p.m. for late residents in exchange for a small fee, who must leave their keys at the gatehouse. Franz Mozart, the composer's great-grandfather, lived here toward the end of the 17th century and is remembered by a plaque.
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