Scarabée

In the location's words:

The Scarabée is the oldest student cellar in Giessen, a cult pub and trendy meeting place in Riegelpfad since 1962.

It is a place shrouded in legends and stories, about which there are probably more rumors than truths. It remained the meeting place of the love-and-peace generation. But despite the many rumors and speculations over the years, the Scarabée is still a lively place today.

The owner grew up in the "Scara", found happiness in her private life there and has been in charge of the business since 1994.

The Scarabée is undoubtedly a distinctive part of Giessen. All those who came from abroad from 1962 onwards and studied here or are at home in the surrounding area and are looking for "life" in the city will agree.

The Scarabée was regarded by public opinion - indicative of an out-of-the-way music pub in a cobbled side street - as rather disreputable, as a gastronomic and sociological weed.

What was so distinctive, so different from the outset that its reputation grew into a legend and cult status within a decade? After all, the store has survived all the fashions and trends of several generations of young people for over 50 years.

If you want to get to the soul of this equally celebrated and demonized institution, you have to delve deep. Inevitably, the conversation quickly turns to the music, the selection of which has always been a trademark of the store. Always contemporary music, of course, but always a little further than the mainstream, a little harder, but definitely also avant-garde. If it has to be, there's still something for the ears today! Yes, Udo Lindenberg was there, Otto Walkes, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Marius Müller-Westernhagen, and years later Marc Terenzi or Oliver Korittke.

Now we have arrived at the soul of the place: the soul is the guests. They were the clientele for the development of this pub in the 60s. They were outsiders, political dissidents who wanted to escape the mustiness of the post-war era. The music was revolutionary, not just a bit harder, but also dirtier, louder and with political lyrics. So the club is still different from the others today, allowing more, even if the difference is only expressed in subtle nuances.

Thursdays, for example, are for those who like it more electronically sophisticated, Fridays are for the audience that likes surprises because the special events take place on Fridays and Saturdays are for rock fans.

Simply being allowed to be different: that's the soul of the Scarabée. That's why it has become so old.

The Scarabée is not a pub - the Scarabée is not a disco - the Scarabée is the Scarabée!