Karzer, Student prison in Wilhelmsplatz, Germany
The Karzer is a student detention facility at Göttingen University, featuring eight small cells located within the west section of a classical academic building. Walls throughout the space are covered with student drawings and written messages that accumulated over generations of confinement.
This facility operated from 1737 until 1933, serving as a tool for university discipline over students who violated institutional rules and regulations. The existence of this prison reflects how universities once maintained complete judicial authority over their own members.
The cells became a canvas where detained students carved and drew messages, turning the walls into a record of youth and rebellion. These inscriptions reflect how young people marked their presence during what they saw as unfair punishment.
Visit the facility through organized guided tours arranged by the local tourist office, which require comfortable walking shoes and willingness to climb stairs. The cells are narrow and have low ceilings, so visitors should be prepared for tight spaces.
Otto von Bismarck, who later became German Chancellor, was confined here during his student years for various rule violations. His presence in these cells connects the cramped space to one of Europe's most influential political figures.
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