Peterskirche

The Peterskirche (Church of St Peter) stands on the Plöck in Heidelberg's Old Town, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, close to the university quarter. It is the oldest surviving church in the Old Town, with parts of the building going back to the 12th century, and the present Late Gothic church was consecrated in 1485. In the late Middle Ages it was a parish church outside the walls, and after the founding of the university in 1386 it gradually took on academic roles. From the Reformation onward it was the university church, hosting graduations, sermons and funerals of professors, and it carries many memorial tablets and tombstones of scholars. Its most notable historical function was as a library. Under Elector Ottheinrich the church held part of the university's book collection, and the building later housed the university library until a dedicated library was built. Architecturally it is a sober Gothic hall with a tower and rib vaults, and the interior was reworked in the 19th century. It was heavily restored in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the university church function continues with services and concerts. Visitors are welcome during opening hours, but as an active Protestant church it may be closed for services or special events. The location beside the Plöck and the Old University makes it an easy addition to a walk through the academic heart of Heidelberg, and its relative quiet provides a contrast to the busier Heiliggeistkirche on the Marktplatz.