New University

The southern side of the University Square is flanked by the New University. The building contains lecture halls and a large assembly hall. The New University (built 1930 - 1933) replaced a neo-classical building created by the architect Friedrich Weinbrenner in 1828 for Heidelberg's museum's association.

One hundred years later, the building was torn down to make ground for the New University. The reason was that in 1928, Jacob Gould Schumann, the American ambassador in Germany, encouraged and financed the new construction project by donating a check of 500 000 US $ collected among German-Americans. The new square building was designed by the architect Carl Gruber. The facade ornaments depicting Pallas Athene were created by the sculpturist Karl Albiker of Karlsruhe. Along the Grabengasse, the west facade of the New University marks the course of the original ditch which during the Middle Ages ran in front of the city walls. South-west of the building arises the "Hexenturm" (Witch Tower), originally one of the corner towers of the city's fortification.

Old University
On June 24, 1712, university chancellor Prof. Dr. Melchior Kirchner laid the foundation-stone for the "Old University," as the building is called today. The architect was Johann Adam Breunig of Mainz. The "Alte Aula" (Old Assembly Hall) built by the architect Josef Durm was added in 1885 shortly before the university's 500th anniversary.

The artist Ferdinand Keller created the painting of the front wall, depicting the arrival of the Greek goddess of wisdom, Pallas Athene, in Heidelberg. Bronze figures on the right and left symbolize the call and genius of science. The ceiling holds paintings depicting the four university faculties, i.e. philosophy, medicine, law and theology. Another object of interest is to be found at the University Square in front of the building: The "Löwenbrunnen", as this fountain is called, is crowned by a lion symbolizing the power of the Palatinate.