The tower view
From the exact centre: roofs around, castle above, river below.
Tilman2007 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tilman2007 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tilman2007 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tilman2007 — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Heiliggeistkirche stands dead-centre in the market square — old Heidelberg's geometric and spiritual heart, its tower the one in every picture of the city taken from castle or bridge. Built around 1400 as the burial church of the Palatinate's princes and home of their legendary library, the Bibliotheca Palatina — the greatest of its age — which was looted in the Thirty Years' War and carted to the Vatican, where it remains. The church keeps one endearing oddity: small shop stalls have clung to its outer walls since the Middle Ages, selling souvenirs today as they once sold bread. Climb the tower — some two hundred steps — for a view like no other: you are at the exact centre, red roofs wheeling around you, the castle above, the river below. A short visit that completes the market square naturally.
From the exact centre: roofs around, castle above, river below.
The great Palatina looted to the Vatican — its absence present in the walls.
Little shops in the church's embrace since the Middle Ages.
Marktplatz, 69115 Heidelberg
Heidelberg Market SquareThe Marktplatz is the heart of Heidelberg's old town, ringed by the Church of th1 minute walk4.5
KornmarktThe Kornmarkt is a small square in the old town a few steps from the market squa2 minutes walk4.6
Friedrich Ebert MemorialThis house is where Friedrich Ebert was born in 1871 — Germany's first elected p2 minutes walk4.7
The Bridge MonkeyThe Bridge Monkey is a bronze figure at the entrance to Heidelberg's Old Bridge.2 minutes walk4.5
Documentation Centre of German Sinti and RomaThis centre is the world's first permanent museum devoted to the genocide of the2 minutes walk4.8The Palatina was Protestant Europe's greatest library — thousands of precious manuscripts kept in this church's galleries. In the Thirty Years' War (1622) it was taken as booty and gifted to the Pope; it remains in the Vatican despite centuries of requests. Only a few pages ever came back.
Two different angles: the castle shows the city from above and outside; this shows it from its heart — a whirl of roofs around you. If climbing only one and fit for stairs: this is the more intimate and less crowded.
Morning before the square's tour-group waves, or just before closing. Note it is a working church that closes for services — times posted on the door.