Gießen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gießen
Coat of arms
Country	Germany
State	Hesse
District	Gießen
Subdivisions	6 Stadtteile
Elevation	155-304 m (−842.4 ft)
Population  (2022-12-31)
• Total	94,146
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	35331 – 35398
Dialling codes	0641, 06403
Vehicle registration	GI
Website	www.giessen.de

Gießen (also spelled Giessen) is a city in the German state of Hesse. It is located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Frankfurt.

The city of Gießen has around 73,000 people living there. It's also home to a big university where about 20,000 students study. The name "Giessen" comes from a German word that means "to pour," like pouring water from a glass. This is fitting because the city is built along the Lahn River and has many lakes and streams nearby.

Famous People from Gießen

Many important people have lived or worked in Gießen. Here are a few:

Justus von Liebig: A Chemistry Star

• Justus von Liebig (1803-1873) was a very famous chemist and professor. He made huge discoveries in chemistry, especially in how plants grow and how to make better fertilizers. Because of his important work, the main university in Gießen is named after him: the Justus Liebig University.

Wilhelm Liebknecht: A Political Leader

• Wilhelm Liebknecht was born in Gießen on 29 March 1826. He was a very important person in German politics. He helped start the Social Democratic Party of Germany, which is one of the oldest and largest political parties in the country.

Friedrich Kellner: A Secret Diary Keeper

• Friedrich Kellner (1885-1970) was a chief justice inspector. He is known for writing a secret diary during World War II. In his diary, called the Friedrich Kellner Diary, he wrote down what was happening and his thoughts about the war. He also worked in Gießen as a chief regional auditor. The University of Gießen has even started a special project about his diary.

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen: The X-Ray Discoverer

• Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was a physics professor at the University of Gießen from 1879 to 1888. He is incredibly famous for discovering X-rays. This discovery changed medicine forever because doctors could now see inside the human body without surgery. After he passed away in 1923, he was buried in Gießen's "Alte Friedhof" (Old Cemetery).

Education in Gießen

Gießen is a city with a strong focus on learning. It has two main universities:

• The University of Gießen (officially called Justus Liebig University Gießen)
• The University of Applied Sciences Gießen-Friedberg

These universities attract many students and researchers, making Gießen a lively place for education and new ideas.

Images for kids

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  Historical drawing of the marketplace, 1844

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  Historical drawing of the Akademischer Forstgarten Gießen, 1877

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  Botanical garden Gießen

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  Theater Gießen

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  Architecture in Gießen

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  Röntgen memorial

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  Liebig laboratory, 1909

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  Multiway pedestrian bridge "Elefantenklo" ("Elephant loo")