Oxford - Outside the door of the Gothic dining hall the crowd is swelling and moments later the undergraduates stream inside. Each of them hastily pulls on a gown - a kind of black tunic - before taking a place at one of the long tables. Chairlegs scrape the floor and the hubub fades to a murmur of many voices occasionally punctuated by the sound of a bell. After a few minutes, the Keble College professors enter the room. A piece of wood is struck, the students stand up and suddenly there is silence. One of the dons gives a blessing in Latin, the students reply obediently with "Amen" and everyone sits down to begin the meal.
The students at Keble College come together every evening for a meal - just like their contemporaries in Oriel, Magdalen, Balliol and the other colleges of this English university city. The scenes are just like those described by Joanne K. Rowling in her "Harry Potter" books.
Indeed the filmmakers used the dining hall at Christ Church, Oxford's largest college, for scenes in the films. Oil paintings of famous personages hang on the wood-panelled walls here, like the one of John King who studied in Oxford in 1576 and later became Bishop of London. At the six tables there is room for more than 50 students at each sitting.
Visitors are not allowed to be present here during mealtimes and if they want to enter the great hall via the magnificent staircase - also known from the Harry Potter films - they must pay an admission fee. The same applies to the large quadrangle known as the Tom Quad.
Porters with hats guarantee the necessary decorum, for instance visitors are not allowed to sit on the courtyard steps. Not that this ruling deters them much since a glance inside the hall of the nearby Normanic cathedral conveys exactly what it means to study at such an illustrious seat of learning.
There are exactly 39 colleges in Oxford and their history stretches back from 50 to 750 years. Famous alumni abound and the colleges are proud of their traditions.
One of the oddest is to be found at All Souls which apparently admits only four school-leavers a year to take up studies in its hallowed halls. Candidates must prove not only their academic excellence but are also invited to a gruelling interview session which includes questions of etiquette such as table manners.
Oxford is renowned for its distinctive sandstone walls interrupted by rows of iron railings. These separate the colleges from the bustle of the outside world. At least in the mornings since most of the colleges throw open their gates to the public at this time of the day only albeit to completely different times and conditions.
Christ Church charges a hefty 4.90 pounds sterling (6.50 dollars) for admission with Magdalen not far behind (4.30 pounds sterling). A visit is definitely worth the money though as Magdalen is considered one of the city's most handsome groves of academe.
Decorated with numerous alcoves and towers, the buildings are more reminiscent of a monastery than a university. In fact the central courtyard or quad here harks back to monastic tradition. Each building is angled inwardly and in Magdalen the quad faces onto what is known as the Cloisters. Students with notebooks tucked under their arms hurry to and fro while in the background a choir can he heard singing.
Magdalen is not only a joy to behold but is wealthy as well. An immaculate path lined with flowers leads from the Quad to the college's own garden complete with a herd of deer. Some of the city's older colleges such as Balliol, open their dining halls to visitors at lunchtime.
Just as in any student canteen, undergraduates and visitors queue up at the counter to choose from dishes such as chicken, pizza or couscous before seeking a seat at one of the long tables.
The quality of the food is however not much better than in the average canteen. The most memorable part of the meal is likely to be the special surroundings such as the magnificent decoration, the yellow light of the lamps and the lofty ceilings.
Internet: www.visitoxford.org, www.balliol.ox.ac.uk, www.magd.ox.ac.uk, www.chch.ox.ac.uk, www.keble.ox.ac.uk, www.visitbritain.de.
