This central Hessian town was cited as a town for the first time in 1298 and today counts 76,000 inhabitants. In 1535 landgrave Philipp the Magnanimous fortified the town and build the New Castle. However, in 1560 a fire destroyed the northern part of town. In 1607 the university was founded. Only two years later, Gießen’s botanical garden, which is one of the oldest in Germany, was established.

Today numerous educational institutions can be found here: Justus-Liebig-University, Technical College of Central Hessen, Academy for Administration and Economics, Free Theological College of Giessen and the department of the Hessian College for Police and Administration.

The municipal theatre in Giessen is a construction influenced by Art Nouveau style offering a variety of theatre and music performances staged both by its own ensemble and guest groups. The Mathematikum in which visitors can playfully deal with the subject of mathematics is unique in Germany. Directly next door is the Liebig Museum. It informs about life and work of the famous university professor and chemist.

Recently established medical centres, geriatric institutions as well as the biomedical research centre at Justus Liebig University turned Hessen’s seventh largest town into an important economical centre of Central Hessen.

In 1944 during World War II 67 percent of the town and nearly all of the Old were destroyed. Thus post-war constructions, modern residential arrangements and streets designed to accomodate traffic dominate today‘s cityscape.

More information: http://www.giessen.de/index.phtml?mNavID=1894.12&sNavID=684.422&object=tx|684.8635&La=1

Photo: Die Lahn, Harald Lüder/Shutterstock