Wetzlar, Medieval district capital in Hesse, Germany
Wetzlar is a district capital in Hesse that stretches along the Lahn River, lined with towers, bridges and narrow lanes filled with half-timbered buildings. The historic core rises on both riverbanks, where cobblestones lead to squares and passages flanked by churches and old administrative structures.
The town was founded in the early Middle Ages and gained empire-wide importance from 1689 as the seat of the Imperial Supreme Court. This function ended in 1806 with the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, stripping the place of its central judicial role.
The cathedral combines Romanesque and Gothic styles, while its missing second tower has shaped the skyline for centuries. Visitors today still see the original half-timbered facades, behind which workshops and homes continue everyday life.
The railway station offers direct connections to Frankfurt and other regions, while bus lines serve the city center and surrounding neighborhoods. Pedestrians reach the old town from the station in a few minutes via wide footpaths and bridges.
The Phantastic Library holds over 280000 volumes of fantasy literature and is considered the largest collection of its kind in Europe. Visitors can also consult rare first editions and manuscripts there that are rarely accessible elsewhere.
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