Old University (Mainz)
The Domus Universitatis , the building of the Old University in Mainz , was built from 1615 to 1618 in the Renaissance style. The building served the theological and philosophical faculty of the University of Mainz and a Latin school of the Jesuits .
Building description
The building was erected relatively unadorned, but fell and is noticeable in the cityscape due to its size. The facade extends over four floors and twelve axes. On the ground floor there are two decorated column portals by the Aschaffenburg sculptor Johannes Juncker . The portal axes are emphasized above the third floor in the roof by dwelling houses with tail gables . The third floor is higher than the rest and contained the university auditorium . In the axis of the portals and midst are two ridge turrets on the mighty roof. This has two rows of dormers .
Building history
The Old University was built between 1615 and 1618 by the Jesuit Order under the rule of the Mainz Elector and Archbishop Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg . It was initially used as the Jesuit Latin school for students and for the theological and philosophical faculty of the University of Mainz.
After the abolition of the Jesuit order in 1773, the building was given to the university and in 1781 it became the central teaching building for all faculties of the university. During the siege and bombardment of Mainz in 1793 the roof burned down and the western dwelling with the roof turret was destroyed. During the renewed occupation by the French, the building became a barracks and remained so for the garrison of Mainz fortress until 1889, even after the French withdrew. It was then used for offices and the secondary school for girls in the city.
After the bombardment of the old town in August 1942, the building burned down. It was rebuilt until 1952, the western dwelling was reconstructed, but the reconstruction only received a central roof turret. The roof turret had to be removed in 1998 because it was in a state of disrepair, but by 2005 two roof turrets were reconstructed in the axis of the portals and dwelling houses based on the original appearance.
The building currently houses the Leibniz Institute for European History .
Web links
Coordinates: 50 ° 0 ′ 0.6 ″ N , 8 ° 16 ′ 17.5 ″ E