Alte Universität, Renaissance educational building in Mainz, Germany.
Alte Universität is a Renaissance building in Mainz that extends across four stories with twelve visible axes along its facade. Two ornately designed column portals mark the entrance and were created by sculptor Johannes Juncker from Aschaffenburg.
The Jesuit order built this structure between 1615 and 1618 under Elector Johann Schweickhardt von Kronberg to house theology and philosophy faculties. It suffered heavy damage in 1942 during World War II, but the Renaissance portals and outer walls survived the destruction.
The building carries the name of the university founded within its walls, shaping Mainz's identity as a center of learning to this day. The spaces tell stories of centuries spent by students and scholars moving through these halls.
The building sits in central Mainz and now houses the Leibniz Institute for European History and the Journalism Department of Johannes Gutenberg University. Visitors can admire the Renaissance architecture from outside and explore the interior spaces, where libraries and seminar areas are open to access.
The two roof spires were added during post-war reconstruction and do not belong to the original building form. This addition shows how craftspeople in Mainz respected the historical framework while creating something new.
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