Castle & old town

A historic university town on the Lahn, in Hesse: the Landgrave’s Castle on its hill, St Elizabeth’s Church, the medieval Oberstadt, the university of 1527 and the student years of the Brothers Grimm.

Marburg climbs the slopes of the Lahn valley, about 77 km north of Frankfurt as the crow flies. The first VisitMarburg.com called it a “fairy tale university town” of medieval architecture, cobbled streets and the Landgrave’s Castle.

St Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231) made the town a place of pilgrimage, the Landgraves of Hesse made it a residence, and Landgrave Philip I gave it, in 1527, the oldest still-operating Protestant university in the world. This section takes you through it page by page.

Marburg, the castle above the town — photo by Heinrich Stürzl (old VisitMarburg.com)

In this section

Castle, church & old townThe Landgrave’s Castle, St Elizabeth’s Church, the market square and the churches of the Oberstadt

MuseumsCultural history in the castle, art and the religions of the world

University & Brothers GrimmThe university of 1527, its gardens and the student years of the Grimms

HistoryFrom 1138/39 to St Elizabeth, the Landgraves, the Colloquy of 1529 and Emil von Behring

Around MarburgAmöneburg, Rauischholzhausen, Schloss Plausdorf and the viewpoints

Grimm-Dich-PfadA fairy-tale trail of 15 stations through the Oberstadt

Castle, church & old townThe Landgrave’s Castle, St Elizabeth’s Church, the market square and town hall, the Old University and the churches of the Oberstadt, with map and hours.
MuseumsThe Museum of Cultural History in the castle, the Kunstmuseum Marburg and the Religious Studies Collection, with hours and map.
University & Brothers GrimmThe Philipps University, founded in 1527, the Brothers Grimm’s student years and the Grimm-Dich-Pfad fairy-tale trail.
HistoryFrom the first record in 1138/39 to St Elizabeth, the Landgraves of Hesse, the Marburg Colloquy of 1529 and Emil von Behring.
Around MarburgAmöneburg on its hill, Rauischholzhausen Palace, Schloss Plausdorf, the Frauenberg ruins and the Spiegelslust Tower.

Sources: Wikipedia (Marburg, en) · Wikipedia (de) · Wikipedia (University of Marburg). Checked 9 October 2026.