A short journey to the north of the major German city of Frankfurt lies the picturesque 1,000-year-old university town of Marburg, almost unique in having suffered little damage during WWII. The Oberstadt is the old city, a labyrinth of tiny, winding cobbled streets and alleyways lined with heritage buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries and built in the distinctive Hessische architectural style. Unsurprisingly, the town is a favourite with history buffs looking for a journey back in time. Set on a hill, the old city is crowned by the massive Marburg Castle and the creamy stone buttresses, towers and spires of St Elizabeth's Church. The River Lahn curls round the base of the hill, with several picturesque Marburg hotels located on the slopes above the valley. This Gothic/Renaissance city's pride is its castle, the main street of Wettgerstrasse with its tall traditional buildings, city hall and above all, its unspoilt medieval atmosphere, redolent of the settlement's long history.

other spellings: narburg hotle, marburghotels, marburk hotell, marberg otel, mraburg hote