Before us stands St Peter’s Church in Heidelberg. Its imposing presence speaks of centuries. It’s the oldest surviving church in Heidelberg’s Old Town.
This isn’t just any church. St Peter’s boasts a history stretching back to at least 1196. That’s older than Heidelberg itself. Imagine a small village then a Romanesque church. The city grew around it. For a long time St Peter’s stood outside the city walls. Its surroundings served as a cemetery until 1844. Today you can still find centuries-old graves and monuments around the church. Inside rest professors electoral civil servants and respected citizens. Olympia Fulvia Morata a renowned poet and one of the most erudite women of her time is buried here.
The church wasn’t always as it is now. It underwent many changes. A late Gothic makeover between 1485 and 1496 included a new tower and chapel. Chancellor Alexander Bellendörfer oversaw this significant expansion. The Palatine War of Succession in 1689-1693 left it a ruin. Rebuilt in Baroque style in the early 18th century it was then transformed again. Between 1863 and 1870 a neo-Gothic conversion made it the three-aisled hall church we see today. The Luther Oak planted in 1883 commemorates Luther’s 400th birthday.
St Peter’s has strong ties to Heidelberg University. Its founder Marsilius von Inghen was buried here though the grave is gone. The church served as the university chapel for a long time officially since 1896. It hosts university services concerts and exhibitions. Inside are 90 epitaphs. Another 66 adorn the exterior walls.
More recent renovations added modern touches. A new altar pulpit baptismal font and COR-TEN steel cross arrived in 2004. New windows by Johannes Schreiter followed in 2006 and 2010 each telling a story. A sculpture of Jesus by Lee Choon-Mann was installed in 2008. The acoustics are said to be amazing.
St Peter’s Church in Heidelberg. A living testament to Heidelberg’s rich history. A place where the past whispers stories and the present rings with life. Its doors remain open to all who wish to listen.