University library - Universitätsbibliothek

At the corner of Plöckstreet and Grabengasse you can find the central library of the university of Heidelberg (Ruprecht-Karls-Universität). The impressive building from the beginning of the 20th century is built of red sandstone and made in the style of the Heidelberg castle. Further you can find several elements and details of the times of art nouveau. It was built about a hundred years ago, but was enlarged a couple of times, because of its lack of space. At the beginning of the last century the archive was holding about 600.000 books and having about 50.000 lendings a year. In 2004 it was holding more than 7 million books and extra media like microfilms, videos or CDs. The amount of lendings has raised up to 1.4 million pieces a year. The library is now having a branch in the Neuenheimer Feld besides the main archive, as well as stacks below the inner courtyard of the new university.

In the 16th century the library became well known because elector Ottheinrich put together several book collections and founded the Bibliotheca Palatina. In the following years the library was enlarged by buying new books as well as getting donations or receiving books from several estates. It became the most important treasury of the German world of scholarship. During the Thirty Years´ War in 1622 General Tilly and his catholic league conquered Heidelberg. He confiscated the archive and brought nearly the whole collection to the Vatican in Rome.

Just a few books and manuscripts of the Bibliotheca Palatina were left in Heidelberg. The most famous piece is the "Manessische Liederhandschrift", a huge handwritten collection of German songs. It was not confiscated and probably taken to exile by the "Winterking" Friedrich V. His widow has probably sold it to a bookseller because of her predicament. The bookseller bequeathed his collection after death to the French king. In 1888 this precious manuscript was turned back to Heidelberg through the intervention of a bookseller from Strassburg.

Today you can see facsimile of historical books and writings in the rooms of the university museum, as well as changing exhibitions.