The name of this street, Imperial Street, was given because the street was part of the imperial road of the Holy Roman Empire, which connected the imperial cities of Nuremberg and Augsburg.
It has beautiful houses from the medieval period, but they are all reconstructions, as they were all completely destroyed by a bombing in April 1945.
Take a look at the house at Reichsstraße 10; it is the oldest house in the city, built in 1297 and the former headquarters of the Meistersingerschule (School of Master Singers). Here was located the Café Engel, a city icon for over 400 years.
Known for its tradition and welcoming atmosphere, the café was a popular meeting point for locals and visitors. ## Unfortunately, in 2015, owners Helga and Kurt Pätzold announced the closure of the establishment, as they could not find successors to continue the family business.
The building that housed Café Engel, along with the neighboring Wagenknechthaus, was considered an important historical landmark, but both buildings were demolished between 2017 and 2018, despite protests from heritage preservation organizations such as the Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (BLfD).
A new urban project, Engelshof, is being developed on the site, which will include residences and commercial spaces, maintaining historical elements on the facade to preserve local memory.
Although Café Engel is no longer in operation, the site continues to be remembered as a symbol of Donauwörth's rich history and culture.
Located on Reichsstraße 34 is the Tanzhaus. Built in 1400, it was a trading house where music was played every Sunday for citizens to dance. Because of this, it was the most important building on Reichsstraße.
Emperor Maximilian I (died in 1517) always celebrated with the citizens.
During the War of the Spanish Succession (1704), the house was looted and partially damaged.
In 1872 it was completely restored, but an air raid in 1945 destroyed this medieval center.
Between 1973 and 1975 the house was rebuilt once again, and now serves as a model for functional construction in a historical setting.
The Tanzhaus – once a symbol of a proud imperial city – is again the city's cultural and communications center and houses a 600-seat theater. The Archaeological Museum is located on the second floor.
