Giessen, University city in Hesse, Germany
Giessen is a university city in Hesse that stretches along both banks of the Lahn, blending half-timbered houses with contemporary campus buildings. The center combines shopping streets with parks and riverside paths that invite walking.
The settlement grew around a moated castle in the 12th century and received town rights in 1248. The university was founded in 1607 and has shaped the life of the town through teaching and research ever since.
The name comes from an old High German word referring to flowing water, which residents still connect to the river running through town today. Students gather year-round in cafés and small bars near the university quarter, giving the center a relaxed and open character.
The town is easy to explore on foot, as sights and campus buildings lie close to each other. Rail travelers reach Frankfurt in under an hour, making day trips possible.
The laboratory of Justus von Liebig is preserved as a museum and displays original equipment from the 19th century. The Botanical Garden houses plants from around the world, including specimens from some of the oldest collections in the region.
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