Alte Universitat (Old University Building), Heidelberg (must see)

Heidelberg proudly hosts Germany's oldest university, founded in the 14th century. Among its most beautiful buildings is the Alte Universität ("Old University"), nestled in the Old Town. The name can be a bit misleading, as the current structure was completed in 1735, replacing the original that was razed during the Palatine War of Succession in 1693. Step inside to discover the Alte Aula, a splendid 19th-century assembly hall adorned with allegorical paintings by Ferdinand Keller on its north wall and ceiling.

At the fore of the Old University is a square with a fountain topped by a sculpture of the heraldic Palatinate lion. For centuries, this fountain was one of Heidelberg's main drinking water sources. The square itself was built over the remains of an Augustinian monastery that did not survive the year 1693, when French troops took the town and castle, bringing nearly total destruction to the area.

Today, the Old University building serves as a venues for diverse events and houses the University Museum, which showcases the illustrious history of this renowned German institution from its inception to the present day. A single ticket grants access not only to the museum, but also to the Alte Aula and the intriguing Student Prison at the rear, accessed via Augustinergasse.