Rosenau- und Thelottviertel

Hidden within Augsburg, the Rosenau- und Thelottviertel holds a secret. It’s a tale of two neighborhoods, woven together by history and architecture. The Rosenau- und Thelottviertel, despite being part of the Pfersee planning area, has always been a part of Augsburg. This area sits east of the Wertachkanal and the Wertach River. These waterways form the natural border with Pfersee. The Rosenauviertel gets its name from the term “Rosenau.” This refers to the “Rösen,” former branches of the Wertach River. The name gained national recognition, mostly due to the Rosenaustadion, although the stadium is technically located in the Thelottviertel. Meanwhile, the Thelottviertel owes its existence to architect Sebastian Buchegger. Between 1905 and 1929, he designed and built this area as Germany’s first garden suburb. Remarkably, it survived World War II almost unscathed, despite its proximity to the main train station. Most of the buildings, considered architecturally exemplary even during their construction, are now protected as historical monuments or ensembles. The Thelottviertel name comes from the Augsburg goldsmith family Thelott. This area, with around 3000 residents, is part of the Pfersee planning region. It’s renowned as Germany’s first “garden city,” a term coined by British urban planner Ebenezer Howard, whose vision encompassed social reform. Built on reclaimed wetlands, the Thelottviertel features single-family homes with large front and main gardens, along with green courtyards. Practicality, attractive design, and reasonable construction costs were key considerations for these centrally located homes. Between 1907 and 1929, 106 single-family homes were built, most in rows. In addition, 76 (multi-family) apartment and commercial buildings were constructed. The urban design concept, based on designed pathways and diverse placement of individual homes or small building groups, was praised as exemplary by contemporary experts. Within the Rosenau- und Thelottviertel, you’ll find the Architekturmuseum Schwaben. This branch of the Technical University of Munich’s architecture museum is housed in the historically protected villa of the Buchegger family. It serves as an exhibition and event venue. Also, don’t miss the Rosenaustadion, opened on September 16, 1951. It held significant importance for German football and international athletics, especially before the Munich Olympic Stadium was built. FC Augsburg played their home games there until mid-2009. Finally, the Wertach power plant, built in 1921 to power the Augsburg tram system, is also located here. The Wertachkanal was created specifically for this power plant. The Rosenau- und Thelottviertel, a unique blend of history, architecture, and nature, awaits your exploration.