There are so many wonderful places to explore in Heidelberg, that we could not really do justice by attempting full postings on all that we visited (we would be creating columns of material). Instead, we will present a brief synopsis of some of those remaining sites, not yet written about and that stood out in our minds as memorable;
ST.PETER’s CHURCH - This is the oldest preserved church within Old Town (located opposite the University of Heidelberg Library). While there is no evidence to prove it, oral tradition states it may have dated back to the 12th century. We do know that there were Christian ties to the University back to the 14th century. It’s unigue character of orange walls and a red roof indicate that it was an example of early Baroque architecture with Romanesque influences. Outside, the old cemetery has graves that cover five centuries and an elegant oak tree that was planted in 1883 on the 400th anniversary of Martin Luther’s birth.
ST.PETER’s CHURCH - This is the oldest preserved church within Old Town (located opposite the University of Heidelberg Library). While there is no evidence to prove it, oral tradition states it may have dated back to the 12th century. We do know that there were Christian ties to the University back to the 14th century. It’s unigue character of orange walls and a red roof indicate that it was an example of early Baroque architecture with Romanesque influences. Outside, the old cemetery has graves that cover five centuries and an elegant oak tree that was planted in 1883 on the 400th anniversary of Martin Luther’s birth.
The oldest church in Heidelberg, St. Peter’s, (which most likely dates back to the 12th century), is on a back street of Old Town, opposite the Library of the University of Heidelberg.
The interior is just as impressive as the exterior.
Over five centuries are represented in the church’s cemetery.
WITCH TOWER - Also known as the “Thief’s Tower,” this was once part of the western city fortifications until 1392. Later on, it functioned as a jail for both male and female robbers and thieves. The tower did not get its name as the “Witch Tower” until 1684 (the witch hunts having taken place much earlier, between 1450 and 1500), to emphasize the brutality of the jail. It was partially destroyed during the War of Palatinate Succession (1688 - 1697). When it was rebuilt, the tower no longer had a peaked roof, as hip roofs were then in fashion. Today, the tower is located in the yard of the New University.
Seemingly out of place on the New University campus, the Witch Tower (or Thief’s Tower) harkens back to medieval times when punishment was brutal.
Curious as to why the archways are so open, and where would the cells have been? Unfortunately, no written documentation was available to us to explain this.
Circa 1900 photo of the tower.
KARLSPLATZ (KARL’S SQUARE) - Named after Grand Duke Karl Friedrich of Baden, it occupies an area that once held a Franciscan monastery (until 1803). It offers an unhindered view of Heidelberg’s Castle. Created in 1805, it is the home to the Sebastian-Munster fountain (1978) which honors the German humorist of the same name. He worked for many years, during the 16th century, in the monastery, on its grounds. It also hosts the Palau’s Boisseree and Rosshiry Residence building.
Karlsplatz (Karl’s Square), which sits on the former site of a Franciscan Monastery, offers an unobstructed view of Heidelberg’s Castle.
The central feature of the square is the fountain dedicated to the 16th century German humorist, Sebastian Munster, who had worked on the grounds of the Franciscan monastery that had once occupied this site.
Another feature of the square is the Palais Boisseree. Built between 1703 and 1705, it was made famous by the brothers Sulpiz and Melchoir Bousseree who exhibited their collection of Old German paintings here.
FRIEDRICH EBERT HOUSE MUSEUM - Ebert was the first democratically elected president (during the Weimar Republic) in German history. He was born in this small three room apartment in February of 1871 to a master tailor ( who also ran his shop out of the apartment) and his wife. Friedrich was the seventh of nine children. The museum retraces the steps that Ebert took in order to become leader of Germany.
Stairs on the opposite side of this courtyard lead to Friedrich Ebert’s house.
This was not a very large apartment...
... considering that there were two adults and nine children living here.
And,yet, the elder Ebert was able to allocate enough space for his tailor shop.
From those humble beginnings, Ebert rose to become the first elected president of the Weimar Republic.
JEWISH SYNAGOGUE REMAINS - There has been a Jewish presence in Heidelberg, dating back to the 13th century, in a community building that had been converted into a synagogue. During the Nazi’s “Krystallnacht” (“Night of Broken Glass”) - November 9, 1939 - the synagogue was burned to the ground. The “Old Synagogue Square” ( a short distance from the edge of Marketplatz) is all that remains, with the outline of the walls marked by white marble, and 12 sandstone cubes representing its pews, as well as the 12 tribes of Israel.
The white marble outline indicates the exterior walls of the Jewish Synagogue of Heidelberg, which was burned down during “Krystallnacht.”
To commemorate our visit to this site, Lori places a white stone on the former synagogue’s altar.
Our three months in Germany are finished and what a wonderful time we had. There are just so many places to explore in any of the countries we’ve visited, Germany included, that being restricted to just ninty days within the Shengen (the treaty that covers 30 countries of the European Union) creates a problem for our travels. We now have to leave for three months before we can return to the EU. Finding non-Shengen countries does present some challenges. So our next journey will take us to Ireland. While a member of the European Union, Ireland is not part of the Shengen treaty. Oh well, ever onward.
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