Where do people still meet?

The search for the Third Place for everyone

Summer has arrived in Würzburg, and the weather is drawing the whole city into the parks or to the Main. The squares that were so empty in winter are filling with life again, the world seems to be back in order, and the eternally grey Würzburg winter sky is finally behind us.

This is the reality in a young, student city – but for many people in other small towns, it looks quite different. As soon as you have a bit of free time, you end up sooner or later on a park bench, a car park, or in the nearest supermarket. Mostly out and about, but not really at a proper place; especially in areas far from large cities, it's not easy to find places where you can simply be . In such moments, a social meeting point is missing, a space that enables encounter: a so-called third place or Third Space.

But what is that anyway? According to sociologist Ray Oldenburg , these are places that create a balance to work and life at home. They are spaces for relaxation, free from any obligations or specific expectations. These places have gained particular relevance in recent years; since Corona at the latest, work and leisure have become more intertwined than ever, our existence is increasingly centred around our home. When we work, study, eat, exercise, and our entire life de facto takes place in just one location, it's only a matter of time before our mental health suffers as well.

So what is the situation in Würzburg? Third places are accessible to everyone here and low-threshold, aren't they?

A chai latte in a café in the old town may be cheaper than in Frankfurt or Munich, but without money you won't really get far. Bringing your own drinks is generally not allowed, and without ordering something you're quickly back out. Even when visiting concerts, at the open-air swimming pool or at the gym, you can't get around paying an entrance fee or subscription. You can stay, but at a price. When older people notice such things, the "everything was better back then" card is quickly played: "In my youth we still had the village pub, the open-air pool, the youth centre, the football pitch…" and so on. This is where it gets interesting, because yes, perhaps there were more third places even in smaller towns back then, but above all they were affordable. Post-Corona inflation is over, but especially the proportion of our spending that goes towards housing is steadily increasing.
The cost of living is now completely unevenly distributed; every third rental household in Germany is overburdened by housing costs. 
Added to this is the fact that people who have to finance their studies entirely themselves hardly have any free time anyway – and if a free minute does come up, they tend to be reluctant to spend money. Social participation also has to be affordable in terms of time.

So where are there free Third Spaces in Würzburg? 

You might think that there are quite few offers in the city that are completely free and easily accessible. But if you look more closely, you'll find quite a lot in Würzburg:

The most important third places are above all our green spaces and the Main riverbank. If you're ever in the city centre, you can always quickly pop into the Ringpark, which offers numerous shady spots for reading and relaxing. Outside the city, you can walk or cycle in the vineyards, fields and forests around Würzburg. If you're more of the sporty type, you can simply shoot some hoops on the Sanderrasen or jump on your board in the skate park in Zellerau.

And even when summer flies by again, many free offers remain. Especially on cool and rainy days, you can settle down nicely with a good book in the city library or continue working on an essay in peace there. It's also worth checking out the numerous courses on offer at Cairo, from improvisation theatre to drawing workshops to knitting circles and dance classes – there are many opportunities to get actively involved. Alternatively, you can stop by the youth café in the B-Hof or visit one of the many free events at the Kellerperle. Here the range extends from reading circles to concerts to trivia nights, where you can prove your knowledge.

Despite its size, Würzburg has numerous third places to offer; you just have to search for them a bit. We not only have plenty of nature on our doorstep, but also more offers for young people than is apparent at first glance.