Friedberg Town Fortification

Friedberg Castle was built as early as 1257 as an advanced bulwark against the city of Augsburg. The city was founded in 1264 by Duke Ludwig II, "the Bearded" (memorial stone in the city parish church). The ground plan of the planned city, whose chessboard-like layout is still recognizable today, is attached to the founding charter. Friedberg is one of numerous city foundations of the 13th century in Old Bavaria; other planned cities with an approximately square ground plan include Neustadt an der Donau or Kelheim. The original fortification of the settlement consisted only of a palisade wall, but a brick wall is already documented around 1400. The partially preserved fortifications were built in brick from 1409. The exposed strategic location of the ducal city outside the gates of the imperial city of Augsburg led to numerous war-related devastations, which necessitated a strengthening of the fortifications. The Augsburgers first attacked the ducal city in 1296. Further attacks occurred in 1372 and 1388. In the 15th century, the city suffered greatly during the conflicts between the Munich and Ingolstadt dukes. Even after the considerable destruction during the Thirty Years' War, reconstruction took place on the original ground plan. In 1703, imperial troops partially demolished the fortifications (War of the Spanish Succession). In the 19th century, the gates and some sections of the wall fell. Other sections of the fortifications were built over, the walls usually incorporated as outer walls into residential buildings.

The old town of Friedberg lies south of the castle on the Lechleite, which rises here 50 to 60 meters above the Lech Valley. The elevated position alone provided effective protection against attacks from the Lech plain, which was supplemented by the strong defensive structures and the castle. To the west, the wall rises directly above the steep slope.