Things to see and do Heidelberg

The church of the Holy Spirit imposes by its dimensions and proudly rises, all of red dressed, on the market square. Between the end of the th and th centuries, it combines Gothic and Baroque styles. Under his frequent, slender and regular high warheads were once the Church's main treasures: burials of princes and the palatine library. The tombs were desecrated by French soldiers in 1693; only those of Ruprecht I and his wife remain. As for the rich library, it was transferred to Rome during the takeover of the city by General Tilly in 1623.

In two sections, you will reach the Königstuhl, with a magnificent view of Heidelberg, the Neckar valley and its outlet into the Rhine plain. In 2007, this funicular celebrated its 100th anniversary. You can also climb on foot. The climb is a little steep but it lasts 5 minutes.

The Philosophenweg is a path that owes its name to the university professors of philosophy. Overlooking the Neckar and the Old Town, the path begins 200 meters after the Old Bridge. The first part of the trail, which runs along the river for about 1.5 kilometers, is not too physically difficult. We recommend that you wear good walking shoes, however, as the second part of the trail is more difficult.

The market square is the heart of Heidelberg's old town. There are many restaurants and small stores here, and it is particularly lively on Wednesdays and Saturdays when the market takes place. With the Church of the Holy Spirit on one side and the town hall on the other, this place is ideal for discovering the atmosphere of the city before exploring it. All you have to do is take a seat on one of the terraces and watch the daily life around you over a drink.

The lively Old Town is the historic heart of the city and is located around the market square and along the Neckar. Situated directly below Heidelberg Castle, old and modern houses lie in a labyrinth of cobbled streets. Stores, restaurants and sights such as the Palatinate Museum, the German Packaging Museum and the Studentenkarzer (a former university prison) offer numerous opportunities to take a break and learn more about Heidelberg.

The Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit) is the largest church in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg in Germany. It is located on the market square in the heart of the historic city center, not far from Heidelberg Castle. The Heiliggeistkirche was built between 1398 and 1515. The Palatinate Library was located inside. From 1706 to 1936, the interior of the church was divided into two parts by a wall. The choir was Catholic, the rest Protestant. Since 1936, the entire church has belonged to the Evangelical Church of Baden.

A very romantic stroll through the city begins with the discovery of the Karl Theodor Bridge. This bridge crosses the Neckar in the northern part of the Old Town. This sandstone bridge, which consists of a series of 180-meter-long arches, is one of Heidelberg's most remarkable monuments and was built in 1788. This very picturesque pedestrian structure offers beautiful views and provides the opportunity to take wonderful photos of the Old Town. You can also lock a love lock on the railing and throw the key into the river.

Hauptstraße is an almost 2-kilometer-long pedestrian zone that crosses Heidelberg's Old Town from west to east. It is the main street of the Old Town and also the city's main shopping street. You can find almost everything in the Hauptstraße. There is even a kiosk where you can pick up books for free by handing in your old books to the next visitor. One of the sights not to be missed is the House of the Knight of St. George, a magnificent historic building facing south from the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Heidelberg Castle is located on a hill above the city of Heidelberg in Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany and was built in the 13th century. The main façade faces north. The castle controlled the Neckar valley, in the middle of which the city of Heidelberg was built. You can get there by taking the funicular to the top of the Königstuhl. Some Gothic-style elements of the building have been preserved, including the chapel, its organ and the altar. The rest of the castle, with its decorative gables and antique-inspired motifs, is in the Renaissance style.