The Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium (MLG) is a general-education Gymnasium (academic secondary school) in Baden-Baden, founded in 1892 as a Latin-free Realschule (non-classical secondary school). Its focus has always been on the sciences, but since the mid-1990s it has increasingly emphasised languages as well. The MLG is the only school in Baden-Baden where pupils can take Spanish as a third foreign language.[1] The school occupies a striking yellow building that stands out in the townscape.
Profile and offerings
The first foreign language is English, taught from Year 5, with French or Latin added in Year 6. In Year 9, pupils choose between a language profile and a science profile. Those who take the language profile then learn Spanish as their third foreign language.[2]
The lower school has optional afternoon supervision from Monday to Thursday, with a study room for homework, staffed by older pupils as mentors, and a games room.[3] At lunchtime pupils eat at the Innenstadtmensa on the grounds of the neighbouring Realschule.
The range of extracurricular clubs changes from year to year, spanning the big band and choir, a climbing club and a football club, an astronomy club and a nature-and-garden club.[4] For student exchanges, the Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium maintains partnerships with schools in France[5], Spain[6] and Łódź in Poland[7].
History[8]
The Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium grew out of a shift in educational thinking at the end of the 19th century. Until then, the secondary schools had offered a humanist education built around the classical languages, and a complementary type of school was needed — one devoted more to the Realien, the practical, real-world subjects. The existing Gymnasium Hohenbaden did have Realgymnasium classes, but there too Latin was compulsory. The Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium was founded in 1892 as a complementary Latin-free Realschule, and just three years later, in 1895, it became a Realschule with an attached Realgymnasium. Its striking yellow schoolhouse on Hardstraße was built between 1905 and 1907. In 1914 the school was given the official name Oberrealschule Baden.
Under Nazi rule the school was renamed Graf-Zeppelin-Schule. After the Second World War, the French occupying authorities established the Lycée Charles de Gaulle à Baden-Baden on Hardstraße. As early as 1945, the Oberschule für Jungen (upper school for boys) became the first school in the French occupation zone to resume teaching, using the rooms of the Gymnasium Hohenbaden. In 1949 the school took its present name, Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium, and once the French had left, lessons moved back to Hardstraße.
The building was extended in 1974 with a science wing, in 1980 with a computer-science room and a technology room, and in 1983-1984 with a sports hall that can be divided in two. The hall was also meant to be available to the other schools in central Baden-Baden.
A solar array has been mounted on the science wing since 2001. In 2006 the MLG introduced a quality-management system, and that December it became the first state Gymnasium to be certified to DIN EN ISO 9001/2000.
The science wing built in 1974 was completely renovated and reopened at the end of November 2025 after roughly two years of construction. The extension is now barrier-free and energy-efficient.[9]
References
- ↑ Sprachliches Profil, Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium Baden-Baden, accessed 18 July 2026 (Archived)
- ↑ Sprachenfolge, Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium Baden-Baden, accessed 18 July 2026 (Archived)
- ↑ Nachmittagsbetreuung, Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium Baden-Baden, accessed 18 July 2026 (Archived)
- ↑ AG-Angebote, Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium Baden-Baden, accessed 18 July 2026 (Archived)
- ↑ Frankreich-Austausch, Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium Baden-Baden, accessed 18 July 2026 (Archived)
- ↑ Spanien-Austausch, Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium Baden-Baden, accessed 18 July 2026 (Archived)
- ↑ Polen-Austausch, Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium Baden-Baden, accessed 18 July 2026 (Archived)
- ↑ Geschichte des Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasiums, Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium Baden-Baden, accessed 18 July 2026 (Archived)
- ↑ Neubau am Markgraf-Ludwig-Gymnasium in Baden-Baden bringt viele Vorteile, Badische Neueste Nachrichten, 30 November 2025 (Archived)