Whoever strolls through Goettingen's streets should make sure to keep their eyes open - not only so that they don't miss the pretty black and white houses and numerous churches, but also so that they remain unhurt, because the locals here love speeding on their bicycles.

Down-to-earth town

With just under 130,000 residents, Goettingen is located in a sparsely populated region of Germany - the southernmost part of the state of Lower Saxony. A quarter of the city's residents either studies or works at the university. Many of the students chose Goettingen on purpose, not only because the university has an excellent reputation, but also because the city is very popular with young people. Goettingen is not a real metropolis but rather down-to-earth. Still, it has everything that a person needs.

Historic city center

A visit to the city is like a small trip back in time, thanks to the fact that during World War Two, Goettingen suffered hardly any destruction. The historic center is surrounded by what used to be a medieval town wall. But today, it is a belt of vegetation that encircles the area. Many of the local buildings - ranging in style from baroque to neo-classical - either belong to the university or used to belong to it in the past. Georg August University, established in 1737, still has a great influence on life in the city, even though most of the teaching and research these days takes place at the northern campus and the humanities campus outside of the city center.

Goettingen's great minds

Those studying in Goettingen are following in the footsteps of some prominent personalities: mathematician Friedrich Gauss researched here, as did the Grimm brothers, who laid the foundations for German linguistic studies in Goettingen. In addition, statesman Otto von Bismarck and former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder studied here, while 12 Nobel prizes, mostly for chemistry and physics, have been given out to researchers from Goettingen.

A kiss for Gaenseliesel

Goettingen's central square is the market square with its medieval town hall and the Gaenseliesel or Goose Lizzy Fountain. The fountain's steps are a popular place to sit in fine weather. But it becomes especially crowded when new PhD graduates in decorated carts get pulled towards it. As the tradition goes, whoever does their PhD in Goettingen has to kiss the Gaenseliesel - the bronze girl in the fountain. And once this task has been completed - among a lot of jubilation and sometimes under a water-bomb attack from fellow students - the kisser receives a bunch of flowers. After all, nothing in life is free.

Author: Anna Grabowski
Editor: Greg Wiser