Karriere

Welcome to Marburg!

A warm welcome in Marburg – university town with an 800 year history, with small crooked streets and lanes in the old town between the river Lahn and the castle on the hill. University flair set in an impressive surrounding countryside! An interplay between history, tourism and culture has always been a hallmark of Marburg. As early as the 13th century, when the Deutsche Orden built the first gothic hall-church on German soil to the honour of St Elisabeth this was already the case. The pilgrims from far and wide who visited the Elisabeth church were the earliest tourists. Landgrave Philipp when he founded the University in 1527 also ensured that Marburg would be a town open to the world with students and visitors from all over the globe. The first Nobel prize winner for medicine Emil von Behring after whom the pharmaceutical company was named gave Marburg, by his combining of science with business, the impulse to become a centre for meetings and congresses. History, culture, science and the unique ambience make together the special attractiveness of Marburg. 

Venice is known for its thousand bridges, Marburg for its stairs and alleys. Even Jacob Grimm once said: "I believe there are more steps in the streets than in the houses.” Crooked, bumpy, angular and steep, such is Marburg’s Old Upper Town. Here the medieval times are still tangible - you can see it, you can perceive it with all five senses. That is also how Boris Pasternak felt: "If only this were a city! But in fact it is a medieval fairy tale!” Not without reason does Marburg lie today along the German Fairy Tale Road.

The brochure ”Marburg at a glance“ gives you just a first impression. Further information can be obtained from www.marburg.de.

Church of St. Elizabeth

The Elisabeth church is the earliest pure gothic hall church with a tripleapse choir and was completed in less than 50 years from 1235 to 1283 as the Marian church of the „Deutsche Ritter Orden“. Later the Landgraves of Hesse were buried over the tomb of the Holy Elisabeth of Thuringia. The building is not only impressive – it is also in the history of architecture of great interest.

The stainedglass windows depict the life of St. Elisabeth and show her charitable work in some of the finest examples of gothic stained-glass art. The precious stones in the richly decorated golden shrine of the Holy Elisabeth are spectacular. Today this building is a protestant parish church and a magnificent monument to sacred architectural art which attracts many tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Castle of the landgrave

The founding residence of the Landgraves of Hesse was built as a crown in the landscape; a fort on a spur, the so-called “Gisonen” rocks above the town. The castle was first begun around 1000 a.d. making it one of the earliest high forts in Germany and was influential in the future development of Marburg. The Landgrave‘s castle, princely residence and fort. Gothic and late gothic with renaissance additions it is a unique building with a multi-facetted history.This can be seen for example in the castle defence ditch and park where the casemates are to be found.An important part of the castle today belongs to the university and houses the Museum of Cultural History including the prehistory and early history of Hesse, religious art and civic life. After visiting the castle you should not miss the beautiful “Schlosspark“ next to it. In summer in addition to a wonderful rose garden there are events such as the “Three Days Marburg“ culture festival and for the evenings an open-air cinema is a magnet both for residents and visitors.

Kaiser Wilhelm Tower

From the Kaiser Wilhelm Tower, the highest point of the town, there is a wonderful view over the town and the countryside surrounding Marburg. In the cosy tower café there are often cultural events to which all are welcome; a visit is well worth while. If you want to marry you can have the ceremony in the tower!

From far away the light-show ‘Siebensiebenzwölfnullsieben‘ (=771207) installed on the tower in the Elisabeth year 2007. The 7.7.1207 is celebrated as the birthday of the Holy Elisabeth.

University of Marburg

The Philipps University of Marburg was founded 1527 by Landgrave Philipp the Magnanimous. The monastery left vacant by the reformation was turned over to the "School of Higher Learning”. Eleven professors and 84 students commenced academics on July 1st, 1527.

Over the centuries the scholars led a pretty modest life. There were seldom more than 300 students whose "praiseworthy behaviour” was valued more than their academic achievement. Of course there were the student protests that flared up now and again up until the recent past. Today, as is heard again, the more than 18,000 students in Marburg are pursuing their studies diligently.

Thus the university in Marburg has not always had the good reputation it enjoys today, although there have always been superior intellects that have studied and taught in Marburg. Prominent names can be found on the list of professors, such as the chemist Robert Bunsen. Among them are also nine Nobel laureates, for example, the physicist Ferdinand Braun. Of particular importance was and is Emil von Behring who in 1901 received the first Nobel Prize for Medicine. He founded a pharmaceutical company in Marburg that is still in operation today.

© Text from brochure „Marburg at a glance“ by „Marburg Tourismus und Marketing GmbH“