Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [478]
Eastward down the hill from the castle, in a half-hidden courtyard, you can see the excavated remains of a 13th- and 14th-century synagogue (Willy-Sage-Platz) under a giant glass cube.
UNTERSTADT
At the base of the Altstadt’s Reitgasse are the Universitätskirche (early 1300s), a former Dominican monastery, and the neo-Gothic Alte Universität (1891), still a well-used and well-loved part of the university.
The Universitätsmuseum für Bildende Kunst (University Fine Arts Museum; 282 2355; www.uni-marburg.de/uni-museum; Biegenstrasse 11; adult/concession €4/2; 11am-1pm & 2-5pm Tue-Sun) focuses on artwork from the 20th century. The Marburger Kunstverein ( 258 82; www.marburger-kunstverein.de, in German; Biegenstrasse 1; 11am-5pm Tue, Thu-Sun, to 8pm Wed) puts on temporary exhibits of contemporary art.
Row boats and pedal boats (per hr €8) can be hired on the east bank of the Lahn, just south of Weidenhäuser Brücke. Nearby Weidenhäuser Strasse, in the heart of the oldest part of town (parts date from the 1400s), has some half-timbered houses.
The Alter Botanischer Garten (Old Botanical Garden), 300m north of the tourist office, is now a grassy public park. The university’s new Botanischer Garten ( 282 1508; Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse; 9am-6.30pm Apr-Oct, 9am-3.30pm Nov-Mar), 4km from the centre near the Uni-Klinikum (university hospital), is served by buses 7 and 16.
East of the Lahn, you can walk up Blitzweg (served by bus 8) and a forest trail to the 36m sandstone Kaiser-Wilhelm-Turm (Spiegelslustturm; interior accessible 2-6pm except Tue Mar-Oct, 2-5pm except Tue Nov-Feb, weather permitting), an outlook tower erected on Marburg’s highest point in 1890. Thanks to a ‘Lichtkunstprojekt’ (light-art-project) inaugurated in 2007, at night you can turn a romantic neon heart on the exterior, visible all over town, by phoning 09005-771 207 (costs per minute €0.49 from a landline, €0.79 to €2 from a mobile; proceeds go to charity). The phone number and the artwork’s name, Siebensiebenzwölf-nullsieben, refer to St Elisabeth’s birthday on 7 July 1207.
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Sleeping
The tourist office books Privatzimmer (private rooms; €20-40) for no charge.
DJH hostel ( 234 61; www.jugendherberge.de; Jahnstrasse 1; dm €20, d with/without bathroom €55/50; ) About 500m south of the centre on the river and the Lahntal Radweg, this clean, well-run establishment has 163 beds. Staff can help plan outings, rent canoes and arrange bike hire. Take bus C to the Auf der Weide bus stop.
Hostaria Del Castello ( 243 02; www.del-castello.de, in German; Marktplatz 19; s €49-74, d €69-95) In the thick of things 50m up the hill from the Markt, this Italian-run establishment has seven rooms and a downstairs restaurant.
Stadthotel Marburg ( 685 880; www.village-hotels.de, in German; Bahnhofstrasse 14; s/d from €79/99; ) The functional, modern furnishings at this family-run place are pleasant, if bland. Some rooms are away from the busy street.
Hotel am Schlossberg ( 9180; www.welcome-hotels.com; Pilgrimstein 29; s €90-110, d €110-130; ) Just below the Altstadt, this place has 147 bright, spacious rooms with large windows.
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Eating
Eateries are sprinkled around the Altstadt.
Café Barfuss ( 253 49; Barfüsserstrasse 33; meals €4.90-6.20; 11am-1am, from 10am Sat; ) This off-beat place attracts a sociable student crowd and serves up good vegetarian dishes, including Kartoffelpuffer (fried mashed potatoes) and Spätzle (a type of egg-based noodle), and a killer Currywurst (curry sausage). Has all-you-can-eat specials (€4.90) on Monday.
kostBar ( 161 170; Barfüsserstrasse 7; mains €6.90-15.90; 10am-1am) This modern restaurant and bar