Heidelberg is a German city that was founded on the site of the Celtic fortress from the 2nd century B.C. Heidelberg is the home to the oldest German university. The city was almost undamaged after World War II and for that reason there are quite many historic monuments: the 13th-century castle, Renaissance palace Hotel zum Ritter, 14th-century Gothic Church of the Holy Spirit, town hall from the 18th century and bridges spanning the banks of the river Neckar. Alte Brücke or Die Karl-Theodor-Brücke is one of them. These the German names of the Old Bridge, which is also called the Charles Theodore Bridge. It was officially opened in 1788 during the reign of the Prince-elector, whose name was used to name the bridge. The southern end of the 200-meter bridge is decorated by the splendid Brückentor gate, which has two towers at its sides. Originally the gate was the part of the city walls, but today it leads to the Old Town and is considered as a landmark of Heidelberg.
