Was it fate that brought the Basilica of SS. Ulrich and Afra to this very spot? You see, the Basilica of SS. Ulrich and Afra stands on ground that has housed multiple churches from the 8th to the 15th centuries. These churches came into existence because of pilgrimages to see the tomb of Saint Afra. Sadly, these buildings met unfortunate ends, destroyed by invaders or ravaged by fire. Then, in 1012, a turning point! The Benedictine monastery of Saints Ulrich and Afra took stewardship of this sacred place. That is how the Basilica of SS. Ulrich and Afra began its own journey. But its story is far from over. Imagine this: the year is 1802. The winds of change sweep across Europe, bringing with them the secularization of Bavaria. The Basilica of SS. Ulrich and Afra, once a powerful abbey, now belonged to the state. The monastery’s possessions, including the church, became property of the Bavarian State. Yet, in a twist of fate, the church found new life in 1810, reborn as a parish church. Years later, in 1937, Pope Pius XI bestowed upon it a great honor, declaring it a minor basilica. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith and the ebb and flow of history.
Hexenbrunnen
What would you say if I told you that this unassuming fountain bears witness to a dark chapter in Augsburg’s