Burse, Medieval university building in Tübingen, Germany
The Burse is a brick building with half-timbered facades in shades of pink, positioned on elevated ground overlooking the Neckar River in southern Tübingen. The four-story structure with its distinctive roof shape has housed the university's Philosophical Seminar and Art History Institute since 1971.
The building was constructed between 1478 and 1482 to teach foundational subjects to scholars aged 14 to 16 before they began advanced studies. From 1803 to 1805 it served as Tübingen's first university hospital, marking an important shift in how the institution was used.
The name 'Burse' comes from the Latin word for purse or treasury, referring to the communal fund that supported students living there together. It was a place where young scholars shared daily life, meals, and studies under one roof.
The building is located at Bursagasse 1 near the river and is easily accessible by public transportation. Its position provides quiet access to the Neckar waterfront and other historical sites in this part of the city.
The building connects two completely different chapters of its history: first as a learning place for children, then briefly as a place of healing during a difficult period. The poet Friedrich Hölderlin was one of the patients who stayed here temporarily.
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