Station 18 - Brau- und Oeconomiehaus der Ritterakademie

Despite its brief existence (until 1701), the Knight's Academy, founded in 1741, had, according to its ideal plan, a "Brau- und Oeconomiehaus" (Brew and Economics House) at Innere Brucker Straße 2-4. This meant that the university, which had been relocated to Erlangen in 1743, could no longer serve the purpose. There was neither a university brewery nor a university brewing right enshrined in the statutes of the Alma Mater. Nevertheless, professors were able to have their own beer brewed as a tax-free house drink. This was done by the university's master brewer in a commercial brewery. The university granted one Erlangen master brewer, as well as representatives of other trades associated with the university, the right of university citizenship. This title, limited to 40 citizens and subject to fees, was associated with prestige and certain privileges. The end of these special academic rights came in 1814 under royal Bavarian rule. But times are changing: Today, the university's Chair of Bioprocess Engineering on the Röthelheimpark campus produces beers for research and domestic use.