Top 10 Historic Sites in Heidelberg

Heidelberg's history runs deep: the castle was begun in the 13th century, the university - Germany's oldest - was founded in 1386, and the Heiligenberg above the city carries traces of Roman and Celtic settlements that predate both by a thousand years. The ten sites below give you a guided tour through that timeline, from medieval fortifications to 19th-century romantic landmarks.

1. 1

   Historic landmarks of Heidelberg

   The city packs a remarkable amount of history into a small area - from the hilltop castle begun in the 13th century to Germany's oldest university, founded in 1386.

2. 2

   A walk through the past

   Wandering the narrow lanes of the Old Town or visiting the castle, you can feel the atmosphere of earlier centuries and trace the roots that shaped the city.

3. 3

   Renaissance Heidelberg

   Heidelberg was a center of art and culture in the Renaissance. The castle and the Marstall building - now part of the university - still show the style of that era.

4. 4

   Heidelberg Castle

   The city's defining monument, first built in the 13th century and rebuilt many times. It houses the German Pharmacy Museum and offers sweeping views over the town and the Neckar.

5. 5

   Heidelberg University (Ruprecht-Karls-Universität)

   Founded in 1386, Germany's oldest university counts Hegel and Max Planck among its scholars and remains a leader in research across the sciences and humanities.

6. 6

   The Old Town

   A dense cluster of historic buildings and squares, including the Baroque town hall, the Gothic Church of the Holy Spirit (Heiliggeistkirche) and the 18th-century Karlstor gate.

7. 7

   Kurpfälzisches Museum

   A trove of city history, with paintings, sculpture, furniture and archaeological finds that trace the cultural development of the region.

8. 8

   The Old Bridge

   One of Germany's older stone bridges, built in the 18th century to link the Old Town with Neuenheim - a beloved meeting point with a fine view over the Neckar.

9. 9

   Jesuit Church (Jesuitenkirche)

   A masterpiece of Baroque architecture from the 18th century, with an ornate façade and an interior of paintings, sculpture and frescoes.

10. 10

    Student Prison (Studentenkarzer)

    A unique museum in the former lock-up for misbehaving students, preserving graffiti, drawings and mementos of student life in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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Top-rated hotels in Heidelberg right now

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Premier Inn Heidelberg City Bahnstadt

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Boardinghotel Heidelberg

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