“Old Aula” of the University of Göttingen

Inside, visitors are greeted by a two-storey classical splendor hall par excellence. The hall is equally suitable for chamber orchestras and smaller ensembles, as well as the historic Steinway D. The acoustics are phenomenal. Behind the lectern of the Great Hall rises the royal wall with portraits of all British-Hanoverian rulers from the founding of the university in 1737 until its annexation by Prussia in 1866. They all reserved the office of the Rector for themselves so that the highest representative of the university in Göttingen was the Pro-Rector. The building also holds the office of the current President of the University and the meeting room of the Academy of Sciences. The university’s penitentiary is located on two floors on the rear garden side of the western wing, i.e. behind the Academy Hall. There are four cells each on the first and second floors, which were colorfully decorated with naïve paintings by the detained students. The upper tract can be visited as a small museum of university and student history with the Aula. Until well into the 20th century, the university had sole jurisdiction over its members. Göttingen students could be detained for up to 14 days. Punishable offenses included insults, public drunkenness, making noise at night, laziness, and rude riding in the city. The later Imperial Chancellor Otto von Bismarck spent a total of 18 days here. At times, Göttingen students considered it good form to spend a night in the penitentiary and immortalize themselves on the whitewashed walls.