“The History of Marburg”

Marburg (aka Marburg an der Lahn) is a city north of Frankfurt in the Hessen region of Germany. It is known as a University City, with 25,000 out of 72,000 of the population being students. It is the home of the world’s oldest Protestant university (where I’m studying!!) called University of Marburg.

The university was founded in 1527 by Philip the Magnanimous. Philip supported the Protestant Reformation and held the Marburg Colloquy in 1529. This meeting was attended by both Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli, two prominent theologians at the time. I walk up the “Zwingli Steps” to get back to my dorm every day.

Philip was a descendant of St. Elisabeth of Hungary, who in 1228, chose Marburg as the land she would gain from her late husband. St. Elisabeth is beloved in Marburg for all the work she did caring for the sick and donating money to the poor. Elisabethskirche (Elisabeth’s church) is one of the highlights for tourists visiting the city.

Additionally, have you heard of the Brothers Grimm? You probably know some of their stories: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc. etc. etc.

Did you know that they also went to the University of Marburg? Many of their story settings gained inspiration from locations in Marburg! On the steps to my dorm there is a quote from Jacob Grimm that reads: “I believe there are more steps on the street than in the houses. One even enters one house through the roof.” Below is a picture of where the Grimm Brothers lived while studying in Marburg.

There is something here that locals and tourists alike can participate in called the “Fairy tale Path”. There are different spots around town that showcase specific Grimm Brothers stories. Each location has a QR code that you can scan on your phone that allows you to read the fairy tale related to that location! It’s a really cool way to learn about the stories and get a walking tour of Marburg.

That’s all I’ve got about the history of Marburg. Our first week of classes was hectic but exciting. I feel ready to tackle the next week, especially because I was visited by one of my best friends from home who is currently studying in Belgium! Familiarity is always something that mentally grounds me in the midst of constant new experiences.

I will check back in next week, thanks for reading!