Picture the Kathan-Haus. It stands proudly in Augsburg’s Kapuzinergasse. This is no ordinary house. Its history whispers secrets from centuries past. The Kathan-Haus is a protected monument a testament to Augsburg’s rich heritage. Its core dates back to the 17th century. However its most striking feature is its magnificent Rococo facade painting. This style was characteristic of Augsburg during the Rococo period. The Kathan-Haus is one of the few remaining examples. That makes it a popular stop on city tours. It offers a glimpse into Augsburg’s 18th-century painted houses. The current paintings are not original though. They were painstakingly recreated in the 1960s.
The building itself is a fascinating structure. It has two three-story wings set at right angles. It resembles an inverted L. A gabled roof tops the whole. A vaulted passageway leads through the building. A two-story addition with half-timbering is on the west side. The rich facade paintings aren’t just on the street side. They extend to three sides including the garden. Religious and allegorical themes adorn the walls. The rear building is also part of the monument. It’s a two-story building with a hipped roof.
We know little about the Kathan-Haus’s early history. Augsburg’s land register shows Johann Franz Fugger-Kirchberg owned it until 1656. After him several owners followed. Hans Geiger and his heirs owned it. Then came Schuster Hans Frank the Zimmermann Tobias Haldenwanger and the merchant Anton Eckart. The wealthy and art-loving merchant Johann Baptist Schger and his family owned the Kathan-Haus between 1730 and 1770. During this time the magnificent facade painting appeared. We don’t know the exact date or the painter. However Schger previously commissioned the Rococo painter Johann Georg Bergmüller. Bergmüller specialized in frescoes. He painted Schger’s other house at Maximilianstrasse 65. It’s possible he painted the Kathan-Haus as well.
In 1847 the merchant and maker of colored and gold paper Peter Kathan acquired the house. It’s named after him to this day. In 1902 the painter August Brandes made copies of the three painted facades. After World War II a large piece of plaster fell from the street side. More damage was imminent. The facade painting was “restored” in 1960 and 1961 by Ludwig Magnus Holler. Sadly the original substance was completely replaced. This was a drastic departure from today’s preservation principles.
Ultimately entrepreneur Heinz Greiffenberger bought the Kathan-Haus. He carefully restored it. He received many awards for his efforts including the Bavarian state medal for monument preservation. The facade restoration was done by the painter and restorer Franz Kugelmann. The Kathan-Haus stands as a stunning example of Augsburg’s artistic heritage a story painted on its walls and etched in its very stones.