Heidelberg University takes its official name, Ruprecht-Karl University, from its founder, Elector Ruprecht I. But, it's been so closely related to the City of Heidelberg in geography and history that many people have almost forgotten its original name completely.

Heidelberg has a population of close to 130,000, of which 30,000 are students and teachers at the university. The city is bisected by the Neckar, a tributary of the Rhine. On one side is the old city, dating back to the seventeenth century, and on the other is the new one, built after World War Ⅱ.

Heidelberg University is spread over both sides.

In the old section you'll see students from Heidelberg University wearing thick coats and carrying bundles of books. They brave the cold December winds as they walk through the market district, which sells Italian leather, French perfumes, and mink coats. Then they take a sharp turn into a small red brick alley to a seventeenth century Gothic style building. Just behind the huge wooden doors the professor is getting ready for class.

In the afternoon the school cafeteria is packed with students who eat lunch or just sit around and chat as they try to kill some time before their next class. The plaza across the street belongs to the city government. During the sixteenth century, Martin Luther once debated here. On the other side of the plaza is the university library, which holds 2.2 million volumes.

If you're tired from studying and in desperate need of a break, then you can go up to the fortress on the hill in the old section of the city. On the grass behind the fortress you'll be sure to find some wild rabbits running about. Here, the only sound that can be heard is that of the church bell from the Church of the Holy Spirit below.

As night rolls around, students begin to flood the local coffee shops or pubs where they sit, have a drink, and chat in the warm atmosphere of good company.

"The history of the development of Heidelberg University is inseparable from that of the city," says Chin Yao-chi in Forever Young, Forever Beautiful.

In 1386, before the establishment of Heidelberg University, German students had to go to France to study. Later, due to religious conflict, students united and returned to Germany. On behalf of these students, the Grand Duke Karl Friedrich of Baden made it the first university in the State of Baden in 1803. Heidelberg University is the oldest university in Germany.

At an early point in time, most universities in Europe belonged to the Church. Heidelberg University was no exception. In the beginning there were only four majors: theology, law, medicine, and literature.

By the beginning of the twentieth century, Heidelberg University had become Germany's most international and liberal institute of higher learning, home to students of different nationalities, religions, and political opinions.

During World War Ⅱ, while the entire country lay almost in complete ruins, the Allies maintained the original appearance of the city.

As history changed, so did Heidelberg University. The original four colleges have gradually grown into eighteen different colleges today.

In the nineteenth century, the medical college of Heidelberg produced two Nobel Prize winning scholars, Albrecht Kossel (1910) and Otto Fritz Meyerhof (1922). The Heidelberg Medical School is also one of the oldest departments.

"Tradition is a never-ending creation," says Prof. Dr. Rainer Dietrich, former vice-chancellor and head of the Department of German Literature at Heidelberg University. Over the past 600 years, Heidelberg University has not grown old, because it's always trying the newest methods and research to keep up with the trends of the times.

In recent years, Heidelberg University has expressed an interest in Asia, and has collected many literary works from Japan, China, and South Asia. At present, there's a new building going up in the center of the old city, which will be the site of an Asian center.

Prof. Dietrich, says, "A university can maintain quality and continue to develop only if there are stringent demands, and a continuous search for the new. We shouldn't belittle history, thinking it to be useless; we should consider history as a means to move forward."

This is perhaps the main reason why Heidelberg University remains "forever young."

[Picture Caption]

With the campus spread out so far, many students ride bicycles instead of walking.

On the campus of Heidelberg University, with its long history, you'll find many old statues.

There are traces of students all across the city of Heidelberg.

The student cafeteria is one of the best places to make friends. As soon as class is over this place is hopping.

As soon as class gets out, the plaza across from the cafeteria becomes filled with students looking for a bit of excitement.

Philosophenweg is the best place for the people of Heidelberg and students to take a stroll.

With the campus spread out so far, many students ride bicycles instead of walking.

On the campus of Heidelberg University, with its long history, you'll find many old statues.

There are traces of students all across the city of Heidelberg.

As soon as class gets out, the plaza across from the cafeteria becomes filled with students looking for a bit of excitement.

The student cafeteria is one of the best places to make friends. As soon as class is over this place is hopping.

Philosophenweg is the best place for the people of Heidelberg and students to take a stroll.