Marburg

Marburg
View of Marburg, dominated by the castle and St. Elizabeth's Church
Location of Marburg within Marburg-Biedenkopf district
Marburg
Marburg
Coordinates: 50°48′36″N 08°46′15″E / 50.81000°N 8.77083°E / 50.81000; 8.77083
CountryGermany
StateHesse
DistrictMarburg-Biedenkopf
Subdivisions25 Ortsbezirke
Government
  Lord mayor (202127) Thomas Spies (SPD)
Area
  Total
123.92 km2 (47.85 sq mi)
Highest elevation
412 m (1,352 ft)
Lowest elevation
173 m (568 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)
  Total
73,704
  Density590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
35001-35043
Dialling codes06421, 06420, 06424
Vehicle registrationMR
Websitewww.marburg.de

Marburg (/ˈmɑːrbʊərk/; German: [ˈmaːɐ̯bʊʁk] or [ˈmaʁbʊʁk] ) is a university town in the German federal state (Bundesland) of Hesse, capital of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district (Landkreis). The town area spreads along the valley of the river Lahn and has a population of approximately 76,000.

Having been awarded town privileges in 1222, Marburg served as capital of the landgraviate of Hessen-Marburg during periods of the 15th to 17th centuries. The University of Marburg was founded in 1527 and dominates the public life in the town to this day.

Marburg is a historic centre of the pharmaceutical industry in Germany, and there is a plant in the town (by BioNTech) to produce vaccines to tackle Covid-19.