Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit), Heidelberg
With public spectacles of punishment a thing of the past, crowds now gather over beer and coffee at the focal Market Square, or Marktplatz. At its core stands the 15th-century Gothic Church of the Holy Spirit, featuring a Baroque mansard roof that ingeniously accommodates traders' stalls between its buttresses, continuing a medieval tradition once widespread across the land.
An intriguing aspect of this grand church is its longstanding shared use by Catholics and Protestants, a tradition dating back centuries, even after its official conversion to Protestantism in 1936. The gargoyles on its southern side (where Hauptstrasse meets Marktplatz) are strikingly grotesque, yet the tower rewards climbers with fantastic city views, while the glorious organ steals the show during concerts.
History hasn't been very kind to this venerable edifice. Plundered by the Catholic League during the tumultuous Thirty Years' War, it lost its greatest treasure鈥攖he Bibliotheca Palatina, then Germany's largest library鈥攍oaded onto 500 carts and taken to the Vatican, with only a fraction ever returning. Then, in the late 17th century, marauding French troops ravaged the church once more, leaving many tombs in ruins; only the 15th-century tomb of Elector Ruprecht III and his wife, Elisabeth von Hohenzollern, stands intact. Amidst the chaos, the lone survivor was the House of the Knight across the square.
An intriguing aspect of this grand church is its longstanding shared use by Catholics and Protestants, a tradition dating back centuries, even after its official conversion to Protestantism in 1936. The gargoyles on its southern side (where Hauptstrasse meets Marktplatz) are strikingly grotesque, yet the tower rewards climbers with fantastic city views, while the glorious organ steals the show during concerts.
History hasn't been very kind to this venerable edifice. Plundered by the Catholic League during the tumultuous Thirty Years' War, it lost its greatest treasure鈥攖he Bibliotheca Palatina, then Germany's largest library鈥攍oaded onto 500 carts and taken to the Vatican, with only a fraction ever returning. Then, in the late 17th century, marauding French troops ravaged the church once more, leaving many tombs in ruins; only the 15th-century tomb of Elector Ruprecht III and his wife, Elisabeth von Hohenzollern, stands intact. Amidst the chaos, the lone survivor was the House of the Knight across the square.
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Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit) on Map
Sight Name: Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit)
Sight Location: Heidelberg, Germany (See walking tours in Heidelberg)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Heidelberg, Germany (See walking tours in Heidelberg)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Heidelberg, Germany
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Creating your own self-guided walk in Heidelberg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Heidelberg is located on the Neckar River and is Baden-W眉rttemberg鈥檚 fifth-largest city. One-quarter of the approximately 160,000 residents are students. Heidelberg University was founded in 1386 and is Germany鈥檚 oldest and one of Europe鈥檚 most prestigious universities. In addition, Heidelberg is home to internationally acclaimed research facilities, including four Max Planck Institutes.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Located on the northern side of the Neckar River, this popular path, about two kilometers long, meander along the sunny side of Holy Mountain. Over the centuries, it has inspired numerous scholars and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles