Wondering how many centuries of knowledge reside within these walls? Here we stand before the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums. It is Hamburg’s oldest school. The Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums boasts a rich history.
Founded in 1529 by Johannes Bugenhagen, the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums started as a “Latinsche Schole”. Bugenhagen was a spiritual representative of Martin Luther. He established it in the secularized old St. Johannis monastery. The site is now Rathausmarkt. Initially, the schoolrooms were half-timbered buildings. These buildings stood in the monastery’s inner courtyard. The Johanneum started as a school for scholars. Later, it educated sons of merchants. This second branch was called the citizens’ school.
In 1826, plans arose for a new school building. Lack of funds delayed construction. From 1838 to 1840, the new building emerged at Speersort. It stood on the site of the demolished cathedral. This area was once the Hammaburg’s germ cell. The medieval Johannis monastery was also torn down. Carl Ludwig Wimmel and Franz Gustav Forsmann designed the classicist building. The building had two wings with arcades. These arcades connected to today’s cathedral street. Alexis de Chateauneuf also submitted designs. The Johanneum humanistically educated Hamburg’s patricians. Important scholars and authors of the early Enlightenment worked here. Hermann Samuel Reimarus was among them. Georg Philipp Telemann and Philipp Emanuel Bach were cantors. This established a lasting tradition. The Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums remarkably survived the Great Fire of 1842. Many surrounding buildings burned down.
In 1914, the Johanneum relocated to Maria-Louisen-Strasse. Fritz Schumacher designed the building complex. The Hamburg State and University Library then used the old building. Bombing raids in 1943 largely destroyed the old building. The remaining parts were removed in 1955 to widen streets. Archaeological digs in 2005 uncovered the foundations again. The entire complex on Maria-Louisen-Strasse has been a listed building since 1979. Engelbert Peiffer’s Bugenhagen memorial has been listed since 1958.
Three years after World War II ended, Johanneum students visited London in 1948. Frederick Wilkinson believed that knowing young people fosters understanding. He initiated the student exchange program. It continues annually. Godolphin and Latymer School joined later. Exchanges with Greek schoolchildren are also a tradition. There is even an orchestral exchange with London partner schools. Since 1982, a hockey exchange with Magdalen College in Oxford exists. In 1989, the Johanneum was among Hamburg’s first schools to establish a Polish exchange.
The Johanneum houses a significant historical library open to research. The school maintains high standards. One can still take Abitur in Latin or Ancient Greek. Study trips must visit ancient sites. Co-education began late. Individual girls were admitted earlier. In 1977, the first girls enrolled in sexta. Currently, there are two active theater groups. Concerts by orchestras and choirs occur every six months.
In 2007, the Forum Johanneum opened. A patron’s donation funded the new building. It includes art and music rooms. A cafeteria, theater rehearsal room, and sports hall are also inside. The south facade bears an ancient Greek inscription. It translates to: “All people naturally seek knowledge”. This is a quote from Aristotle’s metaphysics. Construction of another new building began in 2015. The “stepped house” replaced temporary classrooms. Terraces feature slogans in various languages.
The Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums maintains strong ties abroad. The school is twinned with Latymer Upper School and Godolphin and Latymer School in London.
Did you know that Jules Verne’s character Otto Lidenbrock is a Johanneum professor in “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”?
Since 1970, the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums has leased Hödhütte. It is a country house in the Austrian Radstädter Tauern. Living conditions are simple. All seventh-year pupils spend eleven days there. This builds community and strengthens character. Students also learn to ski.
The school emphasizes experiencing classical antiquity firsthand. The Bibliotheca Johannei, the school library, contains 55,000 books. They are written in various languages. The oldest book is a Latin bible from 1491.
The Verein ehemaliger Schüler der Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums zu Hamburg e.V. is the school’s alumni society. It has 1,300 members. One task is providing money for school activities.
The Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums stands as a beacon of education. It has shaped minds for centuries. Its enduring legacy enriches Hamburg’s cultural landscape. Take a moment to appreciate the history. Consider the future it continues to build.