Wetzlar is a city located in the state of Hesse, Germany, situated approximately 51 kilometres north of Frankfurt. It serves as an important cultural, industrial, and commercial center and is classified as one of the ten regional centers within the state. As of early 2019, the city had a population of 55,371 inhabitants.
Historically, Wetzlar was a former free imperial city that gained prominence as the seat of the Imperial Supreme Court (Reichskammergericht) of the Holy Roman Empire. The city straddles the river Lahn and is situated on the German Timber-Frame Road, known for its extensive sections of half-timbered houses. It also serves as a hub for the Lahn-Dill-Kreis on the northern edge of the Taunus.
The city is notable for its ancient town layout, characterized by steep gradients and tightly packed streets, as well as the Eisenmarkt. A primary landmark is the shared Catholic and Protestant cathedral of St. Mary, which began construction in the 12th century in Romanesque style before continuing in Gothic style during the late Middle Ages. Although it suffered heavy damage during aerial bombing in World War II, the cathedral underwent restoration in the 1950s; notably, one of its steeples remains unfinished.