Hölderlin Tower: the Poet's Refuge
A yellow building of the Hölderlin Tower on the banks of Neckar river is one of the most famous symbols of Tübingen. It was named Hölderlinturm in honor of the poet Friedrich Hölderlin, who lived here since 1807 until his death on June 7, 1843.
The future poet studied in a Protestant seminary, along with Hegel and Schelling, and even shared a room with them. He began to write poetry even during his studies. His first experiments were approved by Schiller, and the young poet seemed to be heading for a successful career. However, numerous life troubles led to the beginning of hypochondria, and then to mental illness. When the doctors delivered a verdict that Hölderlin’s stay at the University clinic would not help him, the poet was sheltered by an educated carpenter Ernst Zimmer, in the same yellow tower. Hölderlin continued to write strange, gloomy poetry even during his illness. Eventually he became a local celebrity: the curious townspeople and tourists visited him in the tower to take autographs and poetic impromptu. Hölderlin was accorded wide recognition only after his death. The tower now houses a museum dedicated to the poet.
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