The German Meteorological Service declared Heidelberg the warmest place in all of Germany in 2009. This status results from its location in a narrow valley where the Neckar River cuts through the Oden Forest. The specific geography creates an oceanic climate that is warmer than most other places in Germany.
Rupert I founded Heidelberg University in 1386. It remains one of Europe's oldest institutions with a global reputation. The university never ranked outside Europe's top 20 by any major university ranking.
Brigadier General William A. Beiderlinden helped save the city from destruction in March 1945. He persuaded Nazi troops to withdraw rather than fight or be shelled. The U.S. Army entered the town on the 30th of March 1945 without resistance.
A jawbone discovered near Mauer dates between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago. It represents the earliest evidence of human life found in Europe. By the fifth century BC, Celtic tribes built a fortress on the Heiligenberg hill.
Brigadier General William A. Beiderlinden negotiated the withdrawal of Nazi troops in March 1945. Alfred Weber and Karl Jaspers led the effort to reopen the university after the war. Surgeon Karl Heinrich Bauer served as rector during this period.