District

Altstadt

The historic heart of Heidelberg between the Neckar and the Königstuhl – with the castle, the Old Bridge, the Church of the Holy Spirit and one of Germany's longest shopping streets.

Nestled on the banks of the Neckar, Heidelberg's Old Town (Altstadt) is the historic core of the city. With its cobblestone streets and the imposing castle watching over the rooftops, the Altstadt is a journey back to the Renaissance. It is home to Ruprecht Karl University, Germany's oldest university (founded in 1386). The castle, the Old Bridge, the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Hauptstraße shape the townscape.

The Old Town stretches long and narrow between the Neckar and the wooded slope of the Königstuhl – a layout that goes back to the Middle Ages. Its backbone is the Hauptstraße, some 1.6 kilometres long and one of the longest pedestrian zones in Europe, strung with the Marktplatz, the Kornmarkt and the Universitätsplatz. Almost every major sight is within walking distance from here.

For all the bustle, the Old Town remains a living residential and student quarter. The side lanes mix student pubs, small shops and cafés; in the evening life shifts to the legendary Untere Straße. Come early in the morning or midweek and you will see the Altstadt at its quietest – before the day trippers and coach groups arrive.

HistoricCastleUniversity

Heidelberger Altstadt vom Philosophenweg aus gesehen — Foto: Schlurcher · CC BY 4.0

Sights in Altstadt

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The Heidelberg Castle

The development of the castle complex into a medieval ancestral seat certainly began with the award of the electoral dignity to Rudolf II in 1329. (1306 - 1353), the first Palatine elector. Already Ruprecht I. (1309 - 1390), who also founded the University of Heidelberg, ordered various enlargements of the residential buildings and a considerable strengthening of the fortifications.

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Old Bridge Heidelberg

At the place where the Karl-Theodor-Bridge has been located for many years now, there were already eight previous bridges. The bridges that stood before it on the spot were made of wood and were destroyed again and again by wars or ice aisles on the Neckar. Therefore, the Elector Karl Theodor ordered the construction of the stone bridge, which stretched from 1786 to 1788. At that time, the bridge was the most expensive building in the Electoral Palatinate after the Mannheim Castle and demanded a special tax from the citizens to make the construction possible.

Church of the Holy Spirit in Heidelberg's Old Town

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Church of the Holy Spirit Heidelberg: the church on the market square

With its red sandstone, the Church of the Holy Spirit dominates the market square of Heidelberg's Old Town. A late Gothic hall church, former burial site of the Palatine electors, once home to the famous Bibliotheca Palatina and today one of the most visited churches in southern Germany.

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Hauptstraße Heidelberg

One of Europe's longest pedestrian zones – Heidelberg's Hauptstraße runs 1.8 km through the Old Town, lined with historic buildings, boutiques, cafés and landmarks from the Church of the Holy Spirit to the Hotel zum Ritter.

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Heidelberg Bergbahn

The Heidelberg Bergbahn is one of the most modern funicular railroads in Germany. By using both mountain railroads, there is a relaxed ascent to the Königstuhl with a unique view of the Neckar valley.

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St. Peter's Church Heidelberg

The St. Peter's Church is the oldest church of Heidelberg and the former version of this building was first documented in 1196. It was a Romanesque church in the middle of a small villlage. The city of Heidelberg was founded in the beginning of the 13th century by a dynasty called the Wittelsbacher. The church was located outside the city walls for a long time. The environs of St. Peter's Church were used as a cemetery until the opening of the mountain cemetary in 1844. Even today you can find graves and monuments of the past centuries if you take a walk around the building

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University Library Heidelberg

The library achieved great fame in the 16th century, when Elector Ottheinrich brought together various book collections to form the Bibliotheca Palatina. Through further purchases, donations and inheritances, the library grew to become “the most important book treasure of scholarly Germany”. However, the end of the collection was approaching in the Thirty Years War. In 1622 the Catholic League under General Tilly conquered the city of Heidelberg. As a result, almost the entire book collection was confiscated and transported to

Universitätsplatz Heidelberg with the Lion Fountain and the Old University

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Universitätsplatz Heidelberg: history & things to see

Universitätsplatz in the centre of Heidelberg is a historic meeting point with a rich past, from Martin Luther's disputation to the Nazi era, surrounded by university buildings, restaurants and the lively pedestrian zone.

Sight

Untere Straße Heidelberg

Located in the heart of Heidelberg's Old Town, Untere Straße (Lower Street) is a must-see for any traveler visiting the area. This old, cobbled street (colloquially known simply as "Untere") is lined with small stores, delicious restaurants and cafes. However, Untere Straße is best known for its pubs. Parallel to the Hauptstraße runs the pub mile with one bar in front of the other. There is something for everyone here, whether it's cocktails, wines or home-brewed and local beers. For centuries, Heidelbergers meet with their friends in this street at the end of work or on th

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