Heidelberg

Heidelberg, city in south-west Germany, in Baden-Württemberg. Noted for its picturesque setting on the River Neckar, near Mannheim, Heidelberg is predominantly a tourist and cultural centre. In addition, factories here produce printing presses, electrical equipment, leather goods, and textiles. Several important scientific research institutes are in Heidelberg.

Heidelberg castle is one of the best-known historic landmarks in Germany. Dating mainly from the 17th century and now mostly in ruins, it stands above the city high upon a bank of the Neckar, dominating the eastern part of the city. Older parts of the structure reveal numerous examples of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Of particular interest are the four granite columns in the castle courtyard, which were once part of a castle belonging to Charlemagne. The castle's Otto Heinrich wing houses a pharmaceutical museum. The castle cellar contains the famous Heidelberg Tun, a huge wine barrel with a capacity of approximately 220,000 litres (53,000 gallons).

Noteworthy religious buildings of Heidelberg include the 15th-century church of St Peter, on the door of which the Bohemian theologian and martyr Jerome of Prague nailed his celebrated theses criticizing the papacy; and the Church of the Holy Ghost (German, Heilggeistkirche), also dating from the 15th century. The famous Old Bridge was once the medieval city's main gate. To a considerable extent, the world renown of the city is derived from the presence of the University of Heidelberg (1386), the first university in Germany, and garishly immortalized in Sigmund Romberg's operetta The Student Prince.

First mentioned in the 12th century, Heidelberg was, until 1720, the capital of the Palatinate. During the Reformation the city was one of the chief strongholds of German Protestantism. French troops sacked the town during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). In 1689 and 1693, Heidelberg was further damaged by invading French troops, who were responsible for most of the damage to the castle. Following World War II the city became the headquarters for United States forces in Europe. Population 143,100 (2005 estimate).