Heiliggeistkirche, Hedelberg, Heidelberg, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

The Heiliggeistkirche, or Church of the Holy Spirit, stands on the Marktplatz in the middle of Heidelberg's Old Town. This late Gothic church is closely tied to the early years of Heidelberg University and to the Bibliotheca Palatina, once one of the most celebrated libraries in Europe. Its tall tower is easy to spot from the market square and from the castle terraces above.

The story behind it

The church was built in the Gothic style over many decades, starting at the end of the 14th century, as the grand church of the Electors of the Palatinate. It became closely linked with the university founded in 1386, and Palatine electors were buried here. One of them began collecting books and placing them on the church's galleries. That collection grew into the Bibliotheca Palatina, among the richest libraries in Germany.

The library did not stay. In 1623, during the Thirty Years' War, it was carried off to the Vatican in Rome, and only some manuscripts came back to Heidelberg in 1816. The church had a divided life too. In the early 18th century a wall was built between the choir and the nave so that Catholics and Protestants could each use a part, and it stayed until 1936, when the Protestant church took over the whole building.

What to look for

• Look at the tower from the market square and notice how its Baroque cap sits on a much older Gothic base.
• Walk around the outside and spot the small shops built between the buttresses, a feature that gives the church an unusually busy, lived-in look.
• Step back to take in the tall hall-style interior, where the nave and choir share one open space now that the old dividing wall is gone.
• Look up at the galleries and imagine the first books of the Palatine Library resting there.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the church and the square around it, a little longer if you want to see the tower or sit through a concert.
• Morning is usually quieter, while late afternoon light is flattering on the tower and the market stalls.
• Check current opening hours and whether the tower is open, as access can change and services or events may limit visits.
• The Rathaus, the Marktplatz fountain, the Old Bridge and the funicular up to the castle are all within a short walk.

See it on a quest

The church is one stop on Heidelberg Secrets: The Test of the Seekers, a self-guided walk through the Old Town with a university theme. You reach the Heiliggeistkirche on foot as part of a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no fixed group.