You see the Liebfrauenschule, a grand building on a beautiful street in Cologne. Let me tell you a little about this school. It is a private Catholic gymnasium, a place for learning and personal growth. The building itself has seen many changes over the years. The school started in 1890 as a private girls’ school. Even though it wasn’t recognized as a complete gymnasium at the time, the school had a strong presence in the community, and was a place where young women could strive to make a difference. In 1916, the school was passed on to the Sisters of Our Lady. They were a group of nuns who continued to provide a strong education for many girls in Cologne. In 1939, however, the school was closed during the Nazi era. Four years later, it was completely destroyed by a bombing in World War 2. A testament to the school’s importance, the community of Cologne vowed to rebuild it.
This is where the story becomes quite intriguing. The building in front of you is not the original building. It is, in fact, the third building that has stood on this spot. The war destroyed the original, and the second building stood on a different location. But the community rallied to rebuild and the Liebfrauenschule opened again in 1953. It was one of the first private schools built in Germany after the war. It wasn’t just a new building, however. It was built with a modern, new style, which was considered groundbreaking and fresh at the time. The school continued to evolve over the years. In 1983, they began to admit boys and eventually, the school’s traditional German name, literally meaning “Lady’s School”, became outdated. They decided to keep the name “LFS” for a simpler and more inclusive approach. The school now has over 1000 students and has a long history rich in education and resilience. Today, it’s a very special place where students from around the world come to learn and grow together.