The university was founded in 1614, but the city had a great tradition in education even before then. The Sint Maartenschool, a so-called Latin School, was famous throughout the country and even further: people came from as far away as France, Italy and Poland to study here with Groningers from the city and province.
However, if someone from Groningen wanted a university education, then they had to go abroad. Cologne, Leuven and Paris were the best universities for Theology; Bologna, Bourges, Cologne and Orleans all had a good reputation for Law; prospective medical student could get the best education at the universities of Montpellier and Salerno.
