Marburg Castle

Marburg Castle

A castle above a hillside town

High on a hill above the charming, steep-streeted university town of Marburg, in the German state of Hesse, stands the Landgrafenschloss — the Landgraves' Castle. Looking down over the red rooftops, the river Lahn and the famous Gothic church of St Elizabeth below, it is one of the great landmarks of central Germany and was for centuries the stronghold of the rulers of Hesse.

Seat of the landgraves of Hesse

A fortress has stood on this hill since early medieval times, and from the 1200s it became the chief seat of the landgraves of Hesse, powerful princes who ruled the region. They built the castle into an impressive Gothic stronghold and residence, with a great hall — the Knights' Hall — that is one of the finest secular Gothic rooms in Germany.

From this castle the landgraves governed their lands, and Marburg grew into an important town, later home to one of the oldest Protestant universities in the world.

The Marburg Colloquy

The castle's most famous moment came in 1529, during the early years of the Reformation. The Protestant movement that Martin Luther had begun was in danger of splitting, as different reformers disagreed about important points of belief — especially the meaning of the Lord's Supper.

To try to heal this division, the landgrave Philip of Hesse invited the leading reformers to his castle at Marburg for a great debate, known as the Marburg Colloquy. Martin Luther himself came, along with the Swiss reformer Ulrich Zwingli and others. They agreed on many things but, famously, could not agree on the meaning of the Lord's Supper, and the Protestant world remained divided. This historic meeting in the castle's halls is remembered as a key moment in the Reformation.

A castle of history

Beyond the famous debate, Marburg Castle has seen many chapters of German history, serving as a residence, a fortress, a prison and an archive over the centuries. Today it houses a museum of cultural history, and its halls and towers can be explored by visitors.

The town below is equally rich in history, with the beautiful church of St Elizabeth — one of the first purely Gothic churches in Germany — and the steep, winding lanes of the old university town.

A picturesque setting

Marburg is famous for its romantic, hilly townscape, with houses and streets climbing steeply up toward the castle. The walk or climb up to the Landgraves' Castle rewards visitors with lovely views over the town and the valley of the Lahn.

Visiting today

Visitors can climb to Marburg Castle to explore its Gothic Knights' Hall and museum, learn the story of the famous Marburg Colloquy, and enjoy views over the picturesque old town. The church of St Elizabeth and the charming university town below complete a rewarding visit. Historic and beautifully set, Marburg Castle is a key site in the story of the German Reformation.