Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, situated on the Neckar River in the Odenwald hills. It lies about 20 kilometers southeast of Mannheim and roughly 80 kilometers southwest of Frankfurt. With about 160,000 residents, Heidelberg is one of the country’s principal university towns, hosting a large student population and a renowned research community.

The city’s landmark institution is the University of Heidelberg, founded in 1386, Germany’s oldest university. The university has played a central role in the humanities, sciences, and medicine and is affiliated with several major research institutes in the city, including the German Cancer Research Center and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s Heidelberg site. This scholarly tradition has shaped Heidelberg’s cultural and architectural heritage.

Key attractions include Heidelberg Castle, a ruined fortress perched above the Neckar, and the historic Old Town (Altstadt) centered on the Market Square with the Church of the Holy Spirit and the baroque Town Hall. The Karl Theodor Bridge spans the Neckar, connecting the Old Town with the slopes of the Philosopher’s Walk, a hillside path that offers panoramic views of the city.

Economy and life in Heidelberg are dominated by education, research, and tourism. The city serves as a hub for biotechnology and life sciences in the Rhine-Neckar region. Visitors are drawn to its preserved medieval streets, university museums, and scenic setting along the Neckar. Heidelberg is well connected by rail and road to nearby Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, and other regional centers, forming part of the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region.