Jesuitenkirche, Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Jesuitenkirche, officially the Church of the Holy Spirit and St. Ignatius, is a Baroque Catholic church on Heugasse in the Old Town of Heidelberg. It anchors the former Jesuit quarter and stands a short walk from University Square, which makes it an easy stop on any stroll through the centre.

The story behind it

The church was built between 1712 and 1759, a long construction that took place when the Jesuits were establishing themselves in Heidelberg. It is the architectural centrepiece of the old Jesuit quarter, the cluster of buildings that grew up around it in the Old Town.

Its tower came much later. The Neo-Baroque tower was added between 1868 and 1872, so the building you see today combines two eras. Another unusual feature is its orientation: instead of facing east like most churches, it is aligned to the south.

What to look for

• Look at the Baroque facade and notice how the Neo-Baroque tower, added in the 19th century, sits on a church built a century earlier.
• Try to work out the building's direction: it faces south rather than the traditional east, which is rare for a church of this size.
• Take in the scale of the church from the street, as it is one of the largest and most significant churches in Heidelberg.
• Notice how it sits among the buildings of the former Jesuit quarter, and how close it is to University Square.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 15 to 30 minutes for the exterior and a look inside if the church is open to visitors. Check current opening hours, as access can change around services.
• As a parish church it is a place of worship, so keep your voice low and dress modestly if you go in.
• It is only a stone's throw from University Square, so you can combine it with the university buildings in one walk.
• The streets of the Old Town are narrow and best on foot, and early morning is usually the quietest time.

See it on a quest

You can reach the Jesuitenkirche on foot as one stop of Heidelberg Secrets: The Test of the Seekers, a self-guided route through the Old Town with a university secrets theme. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the church more closely than you would on a quick pass. There is no guide and no group to join, and you start whenever you like. One ticket covers the whole group.