Old Bridge (Alte Brücke)

The Old Bridge (Alte Brücke), formally the Karl-Theodor-Brücke, is the stone bridge linking Heidelberg's Altstadt with the Neuenheim bank of the Neckar in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Built in sandstone in the 1780s under Elector Karl Theodor, it replaced a series of earlier wooden and stone bridges that were repeatedly destroyed by floods, ice and war. It rests on nine arches and is a defining element of the classic Heidelberg view, with the castle ruin rising behind the Old Town. At the southern end stands the Brückentor, a gate flanked by two medieval towers that once formed part of the town defences, and the bridge carries statues of Karl Theodor and Minerva. Visitors walk across the bridge in a few minutes, but most spend 20 to 30 minutes stopping for photographs, looking at the Brückenaffe sculpture at the gate and watching boats and rowers on the river. The bridge is now closed to general road traffic and is used by pedestrians, cyclists and local buses depending on the section, so the atmosphere is relaxed. The best photo angles are from the north bank near the start of the Schlangenweg and along the Neckar promenade, where the bridge, the castle and the Heiliggeistkirche line up in a single frame. Reflections in calm water are most striking at sunrise and at dusk, when the castle is lit. The bridge is free and open at all times. Crowds peak from late morning to late afternoon, especially on summer weekends and during the Christmas market season, when the Brückentor area becomes congested with tour groups. Early morning and late evening are quiet and make for the best photographs. The bridge works well as the first leg of a loop that continues up the Schlangenweg to the Philosophenweg and back down through Neuenheim, linking several of Heidelberg's main viewpoints on foot. Nearby cafes and riverside benches on the Altstadt side give places to rest, and the Marktplatz is about five minutes away.