Sounds unreal, right? Well, welcome to Fuggerei, a historic neighbourhood in Augsburg, Germany, where you can live for less than a coffee per year! 😱 But, there’s a catch—you have to meet some super specific requirements.
Let me take you on a quick trip to the past… ⏳
Where is Fuggerei?
Augsburg is a cute little Bavarian town, just a short trip from Munich.📍
And nestled inside this city is the Fuggerei neighbourhood, which was built by the Fugger family back in the 1500s. Rent in this neighbourhood has stayed at just under 1 euro per year for the past 500 years!!
So, who were the Fugger family?
You might not know them, but the Fugger family was basically the Rockefellers of the 16th century. 💸 They were so rich, they practically funded the election of Emperor Charles V. But unfortunately, after a bunch of political drama, they went bankrupt. 😬 Anyway, during their wealthiest years, they built Fuggerei to house people in need – talk about leaving a legacy!
So, how can YOU live there?
Now, if you’re dreaming of living there for less than a euro a year, there are some requirements you gotta meet (yep, no free rides).
You must be:
- a practicing Catholic and attend prayers three times a day. 🙏
- without income or unable to afford any housing.
- over 60 years old and have lived in Augsburg for at least two years.
Oh, and you’ll need to do public service work.
If you check all those boxes, you can get in and pay just one rhenish guilder (which is around 88 cents in euros).
The world’s first social housing?
Some people even call Fuggerei the first ever social housing in the world. 🌍 It’s amazing to see that even in the 1500s, there were efforts to take care of people who needed help. It’s a piece of history that really shows how Europe has long had social awareness.
So, if you’re ever in Augsburg, you’ve got to check out Fuggerei. It’s like stepping back in time to a place where the price of living hasn’t changed in centuries.