Wilhelmsgymnasium (Munich)

The Wilhelmsgymnasium is a gymnasium (selective school) in Munich, Germany. Founded in 1559 to educate local boys, it is now coeducational.

Wilhelmsgymnasium
Address
Map
Thierschstraße 46

, ,
80538

Coordinates48°08′17″N 11°35′19″E / 48.13806°N 11.58861°E / 48.13806; 11.58861
Information
TypeState gymnasium
Established1559; 465 years ago (1559)
HeadmasterMichael Hotz[1]
Deputy HeadBrigitte Waltenberger[1]
GenderCoeducational
Enrolment600~
Websitewww.wilhelmsgymnasium.de

Wilhelmsgymnasium is one of the few remaining gymnasiums in Bavaria to be a "pure Humanistisches Gymnasium" (humanities gymnasium), meaning that it traditionally focuses on the Classics: all students are required to study Latin, English, and Ancient Greek, in addition to mainstream school subjects.[2][3]

History

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The Gymnasium was founded in 1559 by Duke Albrecht V of Bavaria as a "Paedagogium", but was renamed in 1849 after its probable sponsor, Duke Wilhelm V. By 1773, the Gymnasium was overseen by the Jesuits ("Jesuit Gymnasium"). The present building on Thierschstraße (corner of Maximilianstraße) was erected in 1879 in Neo-Renaissance style. In 1893 it was granted Seminarschule status, meaning that it accepted trainee teachers.[4]

Much of the school compound was destroyed during the Allied bombing of Munich in 1944 and eventually rebuilt over the years. Girls were admitted during the 1970s. Between 2015 and 2018 the school operated out of a temporary location while the historic building's interior was completely gutted and refurbished with modern facilities.[5] It re-opened for the 2018–19 academic year.[6]

Notable former pupils

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Schulleitung" [School administration] (in German). wilhelmsgymnasium.de.
  2. ^ "Humanistische Bildung gibt es auch ohne Latein und Griechisch". Seuddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 18 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Abstieg vom Olymp". Die Zeit (in German). 11 March 1994.
  4. ^ "Schulprofil" [School Profile] (in German). wilhelmsgymnasium.de.
  5. ^ "Geschichte einer Zumutung". Seuddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 29 January 2014.
  6. ^ Graner, Nicole (15 October 2018). "Zeus & Co. am Giebel". Seuddeutsche Zeitung (in German).
  7. ^ Hans Pörnbacher, “Seidenbusch, Johann Georg” in Neue Deutsche Biographie Vol. 24 (Berlin, Duncker & Humblot, 2010, ISBN 978-3-428-11205-0, p. 178 (in German)
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