A Twin City agreement was signed in 1978 by Mayor Abraham Bar Menahem
Giessen, the capital of the German Federal State of Hessen and district of Giessen, is located about 50 kilometers north of Frankfurt. The population is about 71, 000 residents, 22,000 of which are university students. The name of the city refers to the position of the town between several rivers, lakes and streams. The greatest stream in Giessen is the river Lahn, which divides the town into two parts.
Giessen came into being as a moated castle in 1152, built by Count Wilhelm von Gleiberg. One of the most prominent buildings in town is the Keller Theater, which was conquered by the German army during World War I. After World War II it was used by the U.S. Army as an Officer's Club. The theater was finaly closed when the American army withdrew in 1958, and didn’t reopen until 2007.
The renewed Keller Theater casts performances of every genre including Shakespearean plays, dramas, comedies, etc. In December 2007 the show Educating Rita opened a new era for the theater. In 2008 the theater featured the Shakespearean play of MacBeth.
For the official website of the City of Giessen click here
