Fuggerei: the world’s first public housing (2022)
karlsnotes.com
karlsnotes.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakob_Fugger
> In the year 1500, Jakob Fugger loaned the Vatican the money necessary to build the new St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, as well as other buildings within the Vatican. To repay Jakob the massive amount of money owed, Pope Leo X had to heavily tax the German people as well as sell indulgences, which was heavily unpopular with a large group of monks, including Martin Luther. Partly because of the corruption within the church, Martin Luther was prompted to write his Ninety-five Theses.
And I would obviously fail all three requirements to get housing there: Be an Augsburg resident, a Catholic, and a respectable person.
PS: the old purely mechanical doorbells are also still operational (can be seen in the photograph, the forged metal rod to the left/right of the entrances)
And very elaborate, too! Mechanical doorbells are pretty common here (old city, by US standards, on the west coast), but they are just a handle on the front of the door with a rod that goes through it to a bell on the inside.
One downside, if you're on the taller side, is that the doors in the Fuggerei are only like 5'8, though - and if you're taller than 6'4 or so, even the ceiling height becomes a problem. :D
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_VIII_of_France#Death
- "Charles died in 1498, two and a half years after his retreat from Italy, as the result of an accident. While on his way to watch a game of jeu de paume (real tennis) in Amboise he struck his head on the lintel of a door.[22]."
Not much for a year long lease but not insignificant. I knew some subsidized properties charging that that much for a room.
"As of 2020, the fee for a tour into the Fuggerei is 6.50 euro, over seven times the annual rent."