3614 x 5866 px | 30,6 x 49,7 cm | 12 x 19,6 inches | 300dpi
Ort:
The Netherlands
Weitere Informationen:
The city was founded on the northernmost point of the "Hondsrug" area. The most ancient written document pointing out that Groningen's existence emanates from the year 1040. However, the city already existed a long time before that year, for the oldest archaeological traces found are believed to stem from the years 3950-3720 BC and the first real civilization in Groningen has been traced back to the third century. In the 13th century, when Groningen was an important trade center, its inhabitants built a city wall so as to claim its authority. The city had a strong influence on its surrounding lands and made its dialect a common tongue. The most influential period of the city was the end of the 15th century, when the nearby province of Friesland was mainly under its regime. During these years, the Martini Tower was built which loomed over the city at 127 meters tall. It was the highest building in Europe at that time. But an end came to the city's independence when it chose to join forces with the Spanish during the war in 1594, and later decided to switch sides, joining the Republic of the United Netherlands. In 1614, the University of Groningen was founded, initially only for religious education. In the same period the city expanded rapidly and a new city wall was built. That same wall would later, in 1672, be fiercely attacked by the bishop of Münster, Bernhard von Galen but the wall resisted and Groningen kept its freedom.
