Giessen Attractions
The old university town of Giessen, on the Lahn in the wide Giessen basin, is the largest town in central Hesse, with a number of important industrial plants. The great chemist Justus von Liebig, the originator of nitrogenous fertilizers and inventor of meat extract, lived and taught here from 1824 to 1852.
Altes Schloss
In Brandplatz in Giessen stands the Altes Schloss (14th C.; destroyed 1944, rebuilt 1980), now housing the picture gallery and department of applied art of the Upper Hesse Museum (furniture, sculpture, ceramics, painting from the Gothic period to the 20th C). There are other sections of the Museum in the Burgmannenhaus and in the Wallenfels'sches Haus.
Botanic Garden
Adjoining the Altes Schloss in Giessen is the Botanic Garden (1609), the oldest of its kind in Germany.
Giessen Botanic Garden
Senckenbergstr. 6
D-35390 Giessen
Germany
Senckenbergstr. 6
D-35390 Giessen
Germany
Hours
March 20 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
May 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
September 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
October 1 to October 20
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Liebig Museum
The former Chemical Institute in Giessen is now occupied by the Liebig Museum, with the great chemist Justus von Liebig's original laboratories and a collection of documents.
New Palace
To the northeast of Giessen's Botanic Garden can be found the Neues Schloss, a handsome 16th C. half-timbered building. Beside it is the Zeughaus (Arsenal; 1590, renovated 1958-62).
Upper Hesse Museum
On the west side of Giessen's city center are two sections of the Upper Hesse Museum: in the Burgmannenhaus is the department of local history and folk traditions (arts and crafts, costumes, furniture), and in the neighboring Wallenfels'sches Haus the department of prehistory, the early historical period and ethnography (Stone and Bronze Ages, Roman colonization, the great migrations; Far East, Africa, America, Australia, Oceania).
The other half of the museum is in the Altes Schloss.
The other half of the museum is in the Altes Schloss.
