It is made of Neckar valley sandstone and was built by Elector Karl Theodor in the 18th century.
It connects the old town with the banks of the Neckar at the eastern end of the Neuenheim district. The predecessors of today's Old Bridge were made of wood. As they were repeatedly destroyed by wars and floods, Elector Karl Theodor had a stone bridge built across the river (1786-1788). On the city side, the medieval bridge gate, part of the former city wall, has been preserved.
On 29 March 1945, one of the last days of the war, German soldiers blew up the Neckar bridges in Heidelberg, including the Old Bridge. Thanks to a lively fundraising campaign supported by the citizens, reconstruction could begin on 14 March 1946. The inauguration took place in July 1947.
There are two sculptures on the bridge: Elector Karl Theodor and the Roman goddess Minerva (Greek: Pallas Athene).
The monument to the Elector stands closer to the southern bank of the Neckar. The figures depicted on the two-tiered pedestal around the monument symbolise the most important rivers in the areas ruled by Karl Theodor: Rhine and Moselle, Danube and Isar.
The Elector was very keen to promote art and science. This is why the second monument is dedicated to the goddess of wisdom.
The patron saint of bridges, St John Nepomuk, is depicted on the north bank of the bridge.
