Heidelberg

The city of Heidelberg is located on the Neckar River in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany. It was the capital of Palatinate from the 13th century. It was the site of the publication of the Calvinist profession of faith in 1563.It declined in the Thirty Years' War and was nearly leveled by the French in the 17th century, but was rebuilt. It escaped damage in World War II. Its historic architecture includes the famous Heidelberg Castle, The Holy ghost Church built 1400-1436, the Haus zum Ritter, 1592, and the Alte Brücke, 1788, rebuilt after 1945. It is also the home of the oldest university in Germany, Heidelberg University, chartered in 1386. It has some manufacturing but is primarily a residential and university town, with tourism being its main economic activity. The 2004 estimated population was 143,600.