In the spring of 1770, when Goethe went to the University of Strasbourg to continue his studies, his artistic ideals had already changed considerably. The showcase devoted to Goethe’s stay in Strasbourg contains a letter written in February 1770 which proves that at that time he still planned to travel on to Paris; but he never carried out his intention. His experiences at Strasbourg were too far from the french ideals to maintain their hold on the poet: Strasbourg Cathedral, Herder and Shakespeare merged into a spiritual unity which led him onto completely new paths. A coloured print of Strasbourg, illustrating the overwhelming dimensions of the cathedral, hangs beside the showcase; and a bust of Herder stands nearby. A copy of Shakespeare’s Othello; dedicated in Goethe’s own hand to his student friend Lerse “ in everlasting remembrance”, can also be seen in the showcase. Goethe’s love for Friederike Brion, daughter of the country parson in Sesenheim, has not been forgotten; the next case contains the manuscript of Goethe’s translation from Mac Pherson’s Ossian, which was found among Friederike’s belongings.