Heidelberg Old Town (Altstadt)
Heidelberg Old Town (Altstadt) features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Heidelberg. Give it roughly ~45 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~45 min
- Heidelberg Heidelberg guide
About Heidelberg Old Town (Altstadt)
Heidelberg's baroque Old Town below the castle, threaded by the roughly 1.8-kilometre Hauptstrasse pedestrian street and dotted with historic churches, squares and institutions of the 1386 university.
Heidelberg's Altstadt is the historic core along the south bank of the Neckar, beneath the castle and the wooded Koenigstuhl. Its main axis is the Hauptstrasse, a pedestrian street running roughly 1.8 kilometres from Bismarckplatz to the Karlstor. A through-route since around 1220 and named Hauptstrasse since 1689, it was fully pedestrianised on 30 September 1978. Much of the surrounding town was rebuilt in baroque style after the destruction of the 1690s wars.
The Old Town holds the Marktplatz with the Heiliggeistkirche, the Kornmarkt, the Rathaus, the Universitaetsplatz and the Jesuitenkirche, and remains home to institutions of Heidelberg University, founded in 1386. Because the city was largely spared destruction in the Second World War, its baroque core survives substantially intact. Tourism sources frequently describe the Hauptstrasse as one of Europe's longest pedestrian shopping streets, a claim not made in the street's own reference article.
Did you know? The Hauptstrasse has been a through-route since about 1220 and has carried its name since 1689; pedestrianisation began in 1969 and was completed on 30 September 1978, ending decades of street traffic.
How long is a visit to Heidelberg Old Town (Altstadt)?
Set aside roughly ~45 min for Heidelberg Old Town (Altstadt). That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Heidelberg Old Town (Altstadt) worth your time?
Heidelberg Old Town (Altstadt) is among the 12 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Heidelberg, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Heidelberg
Day 1 of the Heidelberg in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Heidelberg Old Town (Altstadt)
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