Tübingen

Tübingen is a university town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It lies on the Neckar River in the Swabian Jura foothills, about 40 kilometers south of Stuttgart. With a population around 90,000, it is the seat of the district of Tübingen and a center for education and research.

The town has a well-preserved medieval center. The Market Square is lined with timber-framed houses and the Stiftskirche, a landmark parish church. Above the town rises Hohentübingen, a hilltop castle dating to the 11th century that now houses museums and university collections.

Eberhard Karls University was founded in 1477 by Duke Eberhard V and is among the oldest in the German-speaking world. It remains a major center for teaching and research with a large student population.

Culture and student life are distinctive. The Neckar hosts Stocherkahn boat trips and the annual rowing races. The town is associated with the poet Friedrich Hölderlin, commemorated by the Hölderlin Tower. The university and related institutes sustain museums, theaters, and festivals.

The economy centers on higher education, research, and services. Tübingen is connected by rail to Stuttgart and the region, with highways such as the B27 and B28 serving the city. Urban development emphasizes the Neckar valley’s parks and sustainable transport.