Picture the rolling hills of Heidelberg. Before you lies Südstadt a relatively young district. Its story begins after World War II. The Weststadt expanded south. Rohrbach stretched north. They met to create this vibrant community. Today Südstadt houses approximately 5500 people. It is Heidelberg’s fourth smallest district after Bahnstadt Boxberg and Schlierbach.
Südstadt isn’t a uniform entity. It divides into three distinct areas. East of Rohrbacher Straße lies Südstadt-Ost. Here you’ll find charming single-family homes and elegant villas nestled against the lower slopes of the hills. West of Rohrbacher Straße is Südstadt-West. This area predominantly features one to smaller multi-family houses. Larger three to six-story buildings line Rohrbacher Straße.
The western section holds a unique piece of history. The former NATO Central Europe Headquarters. The Campbell Barracks stand here. Surrounding them are residential areas primarily for US Armed Forces personnel. This is the Mark-Twain-Village. This former military presence significantly shaped Südstadt. It occupies roughly one-third of the district.
Southwest of the Campbell Barracks sits Bosseldorn. This small industrial area contrasts with the residential character. West of the military areas are allotment gardens and sports facilities. This area known as the “Kirchheimer Loch” is nestled between railway lines.
Südstadt boasts a significant landmark. The Bergfriedhof cemetery opened in 1842. Many famous Heidelberg personalities are buried here. Among them are Johann Heinrich Voss Friedrich Ebert Robert Bunsen and Wilhelm Furtwängler. Their impressive memorials are scattered amidst the park-like grounds.
Südstadt is bordered by railway lines to the north and west. To the east its boundary meets the Altstadt. The line follows hiking trails on the southwestern foothills of the Königstuhl. Since Rohrbach’s incorporation into Heidelberg in 1929 the Sickingenstraße forms the southern border. Before that the boundary lay roughly 200 meters north along Saarstraße and Markscheide. This street’s name still reflects the old border. Südstadt is represented politically by the Weststadt/Südstadt district council.
Before World War II this area was largely farmland. Only a few structures existed. One was the Bethanien hospital built in 1931. Others were buildings on the eastern hillside of Rohrbacher Straße. The Großdeutschland Barracks built in 1937 (now the Campbell Barracks) also stood here. After 1945 new residential areas emerged. This happened partly due to the 1950 refugee housing and construction plan. The Mark-Twain-Village developed around the US forces’ expanded Campbell Barracks. In the 1950s and 60s Südstadt evolved into a distinct district.
The streets of Südstadt-West largely reflect the pre-construction boundaries of agricultural plots. Mark-Twain-Village was physically separated from Südstadt in 2003. Fencing and other security measures contributed to this separation. Südstadt continues to evolve. It holds a special place within the heart of Heidelberg. Its blend of history and modern life makes it unique. Its future remains as exciting as its past.