Old Bridge Heidelberg — Attraction in Heidelberg

The Karl Theodor Bridge (German: Karl-Theodor-Brücke), commonly known as the Old Bridge (Alte Brücke), is an arch bridge in Heidelberg that crosses the Neckar river. It connects the Old City with the eastern part of the Neuenheim district of the city on the opposite bank. The current bridge, made of Neckar sandstone and the ninth built on the site, was constructed in 1788 by Elector Charles Theodore, and is one of the best-known landmarks and tourist destinations in Heidelberg. Although the Karl Theodor Bridge was completed nearly 250 years ago, compared to the age of Heidelberg it is young. The nickname "Old Bridge" dates from the construction of the Theodor Heuss Bridge in 1877 (then known as the Friedrichs Bridge).Since the thirteenth century there have been eight bridges on the site; the current bridge is built on their foundations. The bridge gate (German: Brückentor) at the south end of the bridge also dates from the Middle Ages. The Romans built the first bridge in the region of what is now Heidelberg in the first century CE. This wooden pile bridge, located between what are now the districts of Neuenheim and Bergheim, was rebuilt in stone around the year 200.After the Roman bridge collapsed Heidelberg was without a bridge for nearly a thousand years. The next mention of a bridge over the Neckar is in 1284. Although the exact date of construction is unknown, it is believed to have been built shortly after the foundation of the city of Heidelberg in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century. The bridge was positioned on the site of the current one, directly aligned with the marketplace. As well as connecting the town with Schönau Abbey, the bridge may have encouraged north-south traffic to pass through Heidelberg, rather than around it. The bridge marked the border of the County Palatinate of the Rhine, as the northern bank of the Neckar belonged to the Electorate of Mainz until 1460. The bridge therefore formed part of Heidelberg's defenses, secured by the gate on its southern end. The first bridge was destroyed by an ice floe in 1288, with several other bridges meeting the same fate after brief life spans. The second bridge was destroyed by an ice flow in 1308, the third in 1340, the fourth around 1400 and the fifth in 1470.Although there are no surviving depictions of these first five bridges, there are two depictions of the sixth by Sebastian Münster, hence its nickname, 'the Münster bridge' (German: Münster-Brücke). A small, round woodcut in Münster's 1527 Calendarium Hebraicum shows a simple view of Heidelberg, including the bridge, but there is a much more detailed depiction in the artist's Cosmographia of 1550. In the Heidelberg Panorama a bridge on eight stone pillars is visible, with a covered wooden roadway that is open at the sides. The two towers of the bridge gate can be made out at the southern end of the bridge, while the monkey tower (Affenturm) is on the seventh pillar, towards the north end of the bridge. On the 2 February 1565 an ice floe destroyed the bridge's covered wooden roadway. The seventh bridge, built on the surviving stone pillars, was known as the "Merian Bridge" (Merian-Brücke), due to its prominence in Matthäus Merian's 1620 engraving of the city. Its appearance was similar to that of its predecessors, except that the span was covered between the monkey tower and the newly constructed Renaissance tower. The bridge survived the conquest of Heidelberg by Johann Tserclaes in 1622 during the Thirty Years' War unscathed, but was demolished on 2 March 1689 by the French under Mélac during the first destruction of the city in the Nine Years'...

The Old Bridge is one of Heidelberg’s most iconic landmarks, connecting the Old Town (Altstadt) to the Neuenheim district across the Neckar River. Built in the late 18th century (1788), it offers a picturesque setting with a rich history and spectacular views of the city, castle, and hills.

✅ Highlights

Architectural Beauty: A classic Baroque-style sandstone bridge with nine elegant arches.

Heidelberg Castle Views: Offers postcard-perfect angles of the castle perched above the town.

Statues & Gate: • Karl Theodor Statue: Honoring the bridge’s builder.

▪︎ Old Bridge Gate: A medieval-looking twin-tower gate, part of the former city walls.B • ridge Monkey (Brückenaffe): A famous bronze sculpture; touch it for luck or photos.

📸 Why People Love It

Photography Heaven: Especially at dawn or dusk.

Romantic Setting: Popular with couples and wedding photographers.

Cultural Symbol: Represents Heidelberg's charm and resilience — the original wooden bridges here were destroyed multiple times before this stone one was built.

📝 Visitor Tips

Best Times to Visit: Early morning or evening for light and fewer crowds.

Nearby Attractions: Just a short walk to the Old Town, Marktplatz, Heiliggeistkirche, and Philosophenweg (Philosopher’s Walk).

No Cars Allowed: It's a pedestrian-only bridge, enhancing the experience.

🔍 Fun Fact

The Bridge Monkey sculpture has a mirror (for self-reflection) and symbols linked to...

It is made of Neckar Valley sandstone and was built by Elector Karl Theodor in the 18th century.

It connects the old town with the banks of the Neckar River at the eastern end of the Neuenheim district. The predecessors of today's Old Bridge were made of wood. Since they were repeatedly destroyed by wars and floods, Elector Karl Theodor had a stone bridge built over the river (1786-1788). On the city side, the medieval bridge gate, part of the former city wall, has been preserved.

On March 29, 1945, one of the last days of the war, German soldiers blew up Heidelberg's Neckar bridges and the Old Bridge. Thanks to a fundraising campaign with lively support from the local community, reconstruction began on March 14, 1946. The inauguration took place in July 1947.

There are two sculptures on the bridge: Elector Karl Theodor and the Roman  goddess Minerva  (Greek: Pallas Athena). The Elector's monument is located closer to the southern bank of the Neckar. The figures depicted on the two-tiered base surrounding the monument symbolize the most important rivers in the territories ruled by Karl Theodor: the Rhine and Moselle, the Danube, and the Isar. The Elector was deeply committed to promoting art and science. Therefore, the second monument is dedicated to the goddess of wisdom.

On the north bank of the bridge, the  bridge's patron saint, John of...