Karzer

Karzer is the German word for an arrest cell for students. German universities used to have police authority over their pupils. At times it was considered a question of honour being arrested at least once during the studies. Detention was therefore mostly "voluntary". The students passed their time leaving woodcarvings, wallpaintings, leaving remarks or creating shadow wall portraits of themselves. Examples of Karzers remain e.g. in Göttingen and Heidelberg