JLU Digital Campus: Explore Gießen

Places to Visit in Giessen

With its 89,000 inhabitants and roughly 40,000 students, Giessen boasts one of the highest student density of all German towns and cities – a fact reflected in its cultural life. Its picturesque location in the Lahn valley and the surrounding hill country provide for excellent leisure-time value.

Giessen’s Mathematicum, the world’s first hands-on mathematics museum, conceived by the JLU professor for mathematics, Albrecht Beutelspacher, was opened to the public in 2002. The museum, with more than 120 exhibits, annually attracts over 150,000 visitors of all ages, inviting them to ‘experiment’ their way around the world of mathematics.

On its two stages, the Municipal Theater provides a broad spectrum ranging from opera, musical, and operetta to classical and modern plays as well as contemporary dance.

Every Wednesday and Saturday over 70 vendors sell their goods at the weekly market in the inner city. Products range from flowers and plants to baked goods, eggs, meat products, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, herbs, tea and other culinary delights.

JLU's botanical garden is situated in the middle of the city and spans over 3ha. The faculties of chemistry and biology cultivate roughly 7500 plants here. It is Germany's oldest botanical garden still kept in it's original place.

Picture of an Experimental Lecture at the Museum

The Liebig Museum in Giessen is located in the historic laboratory complex used by Justus von Liebig for his research while working at Giessen University.

Other Towns and Sights to Explore in the Region

The area around Gießen and Hesse in general is home to hundreds of castles, monasteries, parks and gardens. Giessen itself lies in the heart of the state of Hesse and thus is well connected to most other regions.

Schloss Rauischholzhausen is located approximately 30 minutes by car from Giessen in the immediate proximity of the picturesque town of Ebsdorfergrund. The JLU uses the castles to host conferences, workshops, seminars and festivities on a regular basis.

Wetzlar is closely connected to the famous German author and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It also boasts a picturesque old city centre and beautiful hiking trails around the city.

Marburg is a nearby town with a beautiful old city centre and a castle. It is also home to the Philipps-Universität Marburg.

Frankfurt am Main is one of Germany's metropoles and as such has a lot to explore.