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

Location and function

The Church of the Holy Spirit stands in the heart of Heidelberg’s Old Town, directly on the market square. By day it shapes the townscape around the Hercules Fountain; in the evening it appears in almost every postcard composition taken from the Old Bridge and the Philosophers’ Walk.

Architectural and religious history

Construction began in 1398 under Elector Ruprecht III. In its early years the building served both as a place of worship and as a lecture hall for the young university. The changes of denomination during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation took their toll on the interior more than once:

• 1398-1515: built as a late Gothic hall church, principal church of the Electoral Palatinate
• 1693: gutted by fire during the War of the Palatine Succession
• 1706: a dividing wall inside - Catholic chancel, Reformed nave, an ecumenical compromise that was extremely rare
• 1936: the dividing wall was finally removed; Protestant ever since

Bibliotheca Palatina

Until 1622 the gallery of the Church of the Holy Spirit housed the Bibliotheca Palatina - the most important book collection in the Germany of its day. During the Thirty Years’ War it was confiscated under General Tilly and carried off to the Vatican in Rome, where the greater part of it remains today.

Souvenir shops in the walls

Since the Middle Ages, small shops have been built into the outer walls of the Church of the Holy Spirit. Today they are occupied by jewellers, booksellers and craft traders.

Climbing the tower and the view

The tower can be climbed and offers a panoramic view of:

• Heidelberg Castle and the Königstuhl
• the Old Bridge and the river Neckar
• the Hauptstraße and the market square from above
• as far as the Odenwald in clear weather

Climbing the tower is one of the most rewarding of Heidelberg’s viewpoints - cheaper and far less crowded with tourists than the castle.

Opening hours and visiting

The church is open daily (longer in summer than in winter). During services, access for visitors is restricted. Entry to the church interior is free; climbing the tower is subject to a charge.

Getting there

The Church of the Holy Spirit stands on the Hauptstraße, directly on the market square. The nearest bus stop is “Rathaus-Bergbahn” at the Kornmarkt, a few minutes’ walk away. Parking is available in the P12 (Kornmarkt) and P13 (Karlsplatz) car parks. You will find a full overview in our parking guide for Heidelberg.

Tours & Tickets

Tours & Tickets nearby

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Impressions