Dear Loo Seeker,

We, the makers of this Loo-Guide, know the problem of being in a place you have never been before and having to look for a toilet, due to a rather small bladder. ßecause of this we compiled a collection of Göttingen-toilets in this booklet. All of them are generally public but un­fortunately not all of them are free. At the end of this booklet you will find a map of Göttingen

with colored and numbered circles on it. These circles indi­cate places with toilets in the town. Hopefully at least one of them is located near you. In the preceding pages the numbered toilets and where to find them are described briefiy, their cleanliness is rated, the potential costs are mentioned, and the directions to wheel­chair accessible toilets are explained.

We wish you a lot of fun in Göttingen Cathy and Evi

Legend:

• • 0 ~

ßuildings of the Georg-August-University Göttingen

Public T oilets

Cafe;Restaurant;S hop

Rating of the cleanliness of the toilets ( 1 = worst - 5 = best)

A Brief History of Public Toilets

Already in the Roman Antiquity public conveniences were common. These were meant exclusively for men with a special focus on aesthetics and the communicative potential of the facilities. Over the course of time, the need of and knowledge about public toilets disappeared. Due to the growing population in the towns of the late Middle Ages, a new wish for not having to urinate or defe­cate in the streets appeared. Men with wide 'toilet coats'

(GER.: 'Klosettmäntel') at first remedied the problem. Fora low price pedestrians could hide underneath their coats and satisfy their needs without being seen. In Göttingen the first public toilets came into existence during the 14th and 15th century. These were little huts on bridges across the Leine-canal. In the 17th century the morality requirements increased and a debate about hygiene arose. 1 n consequence the first public pissoire was built in Paris, although in Germany this did not happened until the second half of the 19th century. In Göttingen the first public pissoire was founded in 1 879 at the 'Weende Gate' (vVeender Tor). In the following years more and more of these facilities were built. lt wasn't until 1 90 1 that the first public lavatory for women was integrated into the public toilet at the Johannis Church Uohanniskirche) in Göttingen.

Quelle : Fährmann, Sigrid : Öffentliche ßedürfnisansta~en. Zur Durchsetzung bürgerlicher Reinlichkeitsvorstellungen. Göttingen, 2000.

(

Kulturwissenschaftliches Zentrum ('t<M/Z)/ Center for Cultural Science

Cleanliness: ~ ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: A wheelchair accessible toilet can be reached with the help of an elevator ( of a terrible colour) which will carry you over three steps. Costs: None

The KWZ is equipped with a number of toilets. These are quite similar in construction, but differ in the interior deco­ration by their users. While there are almost no graffiti or quotations at all in the stalls on the first and second floor, the cellar stalls are decorated with stickers, feminist, and left-wing political quotes.

8 Mensa am Turm/Canteen atthe Tower

Cleanliness: ~ ~ ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: The accessible toilet is located at the right side of the dining room. Costs: None

The other toilets are located directly next to the entrance door in the basement. The stalls are quite spacious and weil equipped, except for the inconvenient one-sheet-toilet­paper. Inside the women's washroom and outside the washrooms you can find a baby changing table .

• Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek (SUB)/ State and University Library

Cleanliness: ~ ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: Here you will find one wheelchair accessible toilet on the opposite side of the room on the ground as weil as on the first floor. This area is (probably) only accessible by locking your bag and jacket into the lockers in the basement. Costs: None

On weekdays the SU ß is open until I am. So it can be used as a nocturnal place for relief. The funny thing about these toilets is that they are set up in a semicircle (just as the public convenience of the Roman Antiquity) due to the tower, which is located just above the toilets. This form creates more space in the cabins.

• Zentrales Hörsaalgebäude (ZHG)/ Central Lecture Theatre ßuilding

Cleanliness: ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: An accessible toilet is located on the ground floor at the right side of the lecture theatre O 10. Costs: None

The ZHG is equipped with a number of toilets, of which the ladies' toilets are situated between the lecture theatres 008 and 009 and behind the 'chip card point' ('Chipkartenstelle') (at the left side of the lecture room O 1 1 ). The men's toilets are located on the right hand side of the lecture theatre O 1 1 and on the left hand side of the lecture theatre 008. Three steps lead down to the row of toilet stalls. Some of the stall walls were painted gray just in winter 1 5/1 6 to make space for a new generation of

toilet art. Other stalls are 't still covered by funny, political or provoking

comments, drawings, and stickers. The special thing

about these washrooms are the electric hand dryers, which will actually dry your wet hands and not just blow a breath of warm air on them.

Historische SU ß/H istoric S U ß (Paulinerkirche/Pauliner Church)

Cleanliness: ~ ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: To enter this building with a wheelchair you need to ring a bell at the metal pillar next to the entrance (it is located at the left side of the main entrance in Papendiek). Now you will have to wait until an employee is opening the door from the inside. A lift brings you up to the first floor. 1 n the corridor on your left hand side you will find the wheelchair accessible toilets between the other gender specific toilets. Costs: None

As part of the university the Historie SUB in the town centre doesn't take money for the use of their toilets.

G ßahnhof(frain Station

Cleanliness: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: Probably yes Costs: 1 €, but you get 0.50€ back as a value coupon.

The toilets at the train station in Göttingen are, as many German train station and motorway service toilets part of a coupon system. For the use of the toilet you get a 0.50€­

coupon, which you can redeem in many shops that are located in the train station .

• Carree

Cleanliness: ~ ~ ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: To use the accessible toilets on the

first floor, you have to ask the toilet staff for the key first. To find them you have to turn right when you leave the lift. The toilets themselves are located on the other side of the lifts.

Costs: 0. 50€

The toilets are situated on the first floor, which you can reach by using the escalator or the lifts.

0 Weender Straße/Untere Karspüle

Cleanliness: ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: Yes Costs: 0.30 €

The round stand-alone unit contains a toilet and a wash­basin. Warning: After 15 minutes the unit will start to clean itself from the inside and the light will be turned off.

0 Friedrichstraße

You know one, you know them all. Refer to No. 8

You see, what we mean.

1) Marktplatz/Marketplace (at the Johannis Church)

Cleanliness: ~ Wheelchair accessibility: To open the

accessible toilets you have to contact the staff.

Costs: 0.30€

The opening tim es of these toilets are weekdays 9 .30am - 6pm and Saturdays 9 .30am - 4pm. Use these underground

toilets only in case of an emergency. They are not very pleasant and there are much

nicer and cheaper options close by.

G Kurze Straße

Refer to No. 8

Schillerwiesen;Schiller-G reen

(across from the minigolf park)

~ :Cleanliness Wheelcheir accessibility: No

Costs: None

Whether you are going for a walk or are having a picnic in the

Schillerwiesen with a weak bladder, you will be happier to use this a

little unhygienic toilet rather than

the bushes.

Neues Rathaus/New Town Hall

~~~ :Cleanliness Wheelchair accessibility: In the

men's rooms as weil as the ladies'

rooms you will find wheelchair accessible toilets.

Costs: None

Anyone who has always wanted to visit the toilet in the ugliest building

of Göttingen can take the opportunity to do so in the New

Town Hall. Here you will find the toilets at the back of the big pillar in

the middle of the building, which contains the lift shafts at the front. '

@ Botanischer Garten & Cafe Botanik/ßotanical Garden

Cleanliness: ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: No Costs: None

You can reach these toilets, which are located in the inner courtyard of the Cafe Botanik, through the botanical garden or the Untere Karspüle (a street). They are not very spacious, but a welcome refuge for garden and cafe visitors.

~ Deutsches Theater & ßistro/Gerrnan Theatre

Cleanliness: ~ ~ J/ Wheelchair accessibility: At the left side of the glass annex is the wheelchair accessible entrance. Turn right at the bar and follow a dark corridor. At the right side you will find the door to the wheelchair accessible toilet. Costs: Free for theatre and bistro visitors.

From the main entrance of the bistro you have to cross the entire room until you reach the bar. The toi lets are located on its left hand side.

~ [ ... J/Dots ~ (ßörnerviertel/ßörner-District)

Ck,anliness: J}J J/ J/ Wheelchair accessibility: U nfortunately this Bar is com­pletely inaccessible for wheel­chair users, except for the ground level inner courtyard, . Costs: Free for guests.

A walk through this bar is already worthwhile because of the cozy couch and armchair arrangements and the wall decoration, but also to find the toilets you have to walk through the whole bar and up the stairs as they are located at the top floor of the building.

@ Salamanca

Cleanliness: ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: No

Costs: Free for guests.

To reach the toilets at the back of the bar you have to pass the billiard tables and the smoking area.

@) DM (am alten Rathaus/at the Old Town Hall)

Cleanliness: ~ ~ ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

Costs: None

To be able to use this toilet at the back of the shop you have to ask a member of staff to open the toilet

door for you.

(@) Karstadt

Cleanliness: ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: The wheelchair accessible toilet is srt:uated wrt:h the others on the second fioor behind the restaurant/ cafe.

Costs: 0.50 €

The toilets are located on the second fioor behind the restaurant/cafe. The price is not appropriate for the poor cleanliness and equipment of the toilet.

@ Lumiere/Kabale

Cleanliness: ~ ~ ~ Wheelchair accessibility: No Costs: None

' ~ Here the toilets are

located in the under­ground as weil. Matching the cinema and film

theme (the Lumiere is an art hause cinema) the stall doors and walls are decorated with film stills.