Tübingen

Athens on the Neckar

If Germany indeed ever was the "land of poets and philosophers", then Tübingen can at least partly lay claim to this title for itself. Many brilliant minds lived and studied in Tübingen. There was Johannes Keppler (1571-1630), the first man to calculate the elliptical orbit of the planets, and Wilhelm Schickhardt who, in 1623, invented the world's first mechanical calculator. The philosophers Hegel and Schelling also lived in the "Athens on the Neckar", as did such writers as Hölderlin, Mörike, Uhland and Hauff. All were students a the Tübingen Foundation, an evangelical theological seminary established in 1536.

      (History of the clock in German only)

Tübingen is built on two hills overlooking the Neckar and Ammer rivers. Its medieval attractions all survived World War II intact. Particularly worth seeing are the 15th-century Gothic Collegiate Church, and behind it the oldest parts of the University founded in 1477, where the reformer Phillip Melancthon lectured from 1514-18. Down on the Neckar is the Hölderlin Tower where the insane poet Hölderlin lived from 1807 until his death in 1843. From there the Bursagasse lead to the Town Hall, a half-timbered building dating from 1435. It stands on the old marketplace, where on market days farmers in rural costume come to sell their products. Above, the Burgsteige path climbs to the 16th century Hohentübingen Castle which at 373 meters (1,220ft) offers a splendid view over the roof tops and down to the Neckar.

Die Astronomische Uhr und das Glockenspiel auf dem Tübinger Rathaus

Die astronomische Uhr auf dem Tübinger Rathaus stammt aus dem Jahre 1511 und wurde von dem Mathematiker und Astronomen Johannes Stöffler konstruiert.

Außer den beiden Zifferblättern im Ziergiebel der Rathausfassade, die die normale Uhrzeit sowie den Lauf der Sonne und des Mondes anzeigen, gibt es noch weitere Uhrentafeln für die Zeitanzeige hinten zur Haaggasse und im Innern des Gebäudes.

Das Glockenspiel wurde erst 1979 hinzugefügt. Es verfügt über 5 Glocken, die um 9, 12, 16 und 18 Uhr die Kopenhagener Rathausmelodie spielen.

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