Medieval streets lead to a hilltop castle overlooking the Lahn River. The university houses Europe's largest collection of medieval manuscripts.
Marburg's medieval streets climb the hillsides above the Lahn River in central Germany. The 11th-century castle watches over a maze of cobblestone alleys, where Gothic spires of the Elisabethkirche pierce the skyline. This university town of 77,000 includes 25,000 students who fill its cafes and historic squares. The Brothers Grimm once walked these same streets while studying law, leaving their mark on the city's cultural identity.
Exploring the Upper Old Town
The Oberstadt (Upper Town) contains medieval buildings dating from 1200-1550. You can reach this area by climbing the stone staircases or taking the free glass-fronted elevators that run daily from 7:00 to 24:00. In the Marktplatz, the 16th-century town hall with its stepped gable faces the St. Georg fountain, where students meet before classes. The surrounding lanes lead to buildings with exposed timber frames and carved wooden details.
Marburg Castle and Viewpoints
Marburg Castle crowns Schlossberg hill at 287 meters above sea level. Inside, you'll find the University Museum of Cultural History, which opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-18:00. Walk to St. Michael's Chapel for views across the red-tiled roofs of medieval Marburg, or climb the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Tower during sunset hours (April-October, 14:00-20:00).
Gothic Architecture and Churches
The Elisabethkirche (1235-1283) was among the first Gothic churches built in Germany. Its interior contains the gold-decorated tomb of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and medieval stained-glass windows depicting biblical scenes. The church influenced later German Gothic design with its pointed arches and ribbed vaults. You can visit daily between 9:00-17:00, except during services.
Student Life and Culture
At Philipps University, founded in 1527, you can attend public concerts by the university symphony orchestra and choir throughout the semester. The Waggonhalle cultural center, housed in an old railway building, runs theater productions and concerts Thursday through Sunday. Both the Old Botanical Garden in the city center and the larger garden on Pilgrimstein street maintain collections of native and exotic plants.
Brothers Grimm Heritage
Follow the Grimm-Dich-Pfad (Grimm Path) from Steinweg street up to the castle. The 1.5-kilometer route includes 16 art installations and information panels explaining where Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm lived, studied, and gathered inspiration in the early 1800s. Each panel includes text in German and English.
Getting Around
Trains connect Marburg to Frankfurt (45 minutes) and Kassel (1 hour). The city has tactile paving, Braille city maps, and audio-guided walking tours for visitors with visual impairments. Local buses run every 15 minutes between the lower and upper towns from 6:00-23:00, with less frequent night service.
