University Library Historical Collections

The Historical Collections department preserves and administers the valuable holdings of manuscripts, charters, estates, incunabula, and printed works dating from the 14th to the 18th century.

Among the best-known holdings is the Bibliotheca Palatina, whose origins date back to 1386, the founding year of Heidelberg University. Later, the library of the Church of the Holy Spirit collegiate church and the Electors’ book collection at Heidelberg Castle were also incorporated into the holdings of the Bibliotheca Palatina. During the Thirty Years’ War, the holdings reached the Vatican as war booty of the Catholic League, and only in the 19th century did the German-language manuscripts return to the University Library. The “Codex Manesse” is likewise of unique significance. As the most extensive collection of Middle High German song and didactic poetry, it was inscribed in the international register of the Memory of the World.

The holdings of the Historical Writings department may be consulted only in the manuscript reading room and may not be borrowed for use outside the library. However, the University Library began digitizing its extensive historical holdings as early as 2001. By now, all manuscripts of the Bibliotheca Palatina as well as those of the monastic libraries of Salem and Petershausen are available online and freely accessible.