Student Prison (Studentenkarzer) and University Museum

The Student Prison (Studentenkarzer) and the University Museum are two linked sights at Augustinergasse 2 in Heidelberg's Altstadt, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, tied to the history of Heidelberg University, the oldest university in the country. The Studentenkarzer was used from the 18th century until the early 20th century as a detention cell for students who broke university rules, with sentences ranging from a few days to a few weeks for offences such as noise, drunkenness and fighting. Rather than being a deterrent, the cells became a badge of honour, and the walls and ceilings are covered with decades of graffiti, silhouettes, poems and coats of arms left by the inmates, which gives the rooms their distinctive character. Prisoners were allowed to attend lectures and had food brought in, so the experience was known to be lenient. The University Museum, in the neighbouring Old University building, tells the story of the institution from its medieval foundation through the Reformation, the Enlightenment and the modern era, using documents, portraits, scientific instruments and objects connected to well-known scholars. Visitors can see the Karzer on its own or as part of a combined ticket. A visit typically takes 45 to 90 minutes. The cells are small and rooms are narrow, so groups move through in turn. The best photo angles are inside the Karzer, where the scribbled walls tell their own story, though some areas may restrict photography. Crowds are rarely heavy, and weekday mornings are the quietest. Opening hours differ between winter and summer, with shorter hours and Monday closing in the colder months, so visitors should check before going. Last admission is 45 minutes before closing. The site is a three-minute walk from the Marktplatz and sits close to the Universitätsplatz, making it easy to pair with a walk along the Hauptstraße.