Paul McElroy, age 15, of Rutland, Vt., for his question:

HOW OLD IS HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY?

One of the most famous universities in the world, and the oldest German university, is the University of Heidelberg, officially known as Ruprecht Karl Universitat. It is located in Heidelberg, West Germany, and was founded in 1386 by Rupert I, an elector of the Palatinate (the name of the country of which Heidelberg was then the capital).

The first rector of the university was a religious scholar named Marsilius von Inghen, who lived from 1330 until 1395. He established the university as a Roman Catholic institution.

During the Reformation, a reorganization in which the great Protestant scholar Melanchthon played a prominent part changed Heidelberg into a Protestant university.

In 1652, after the Thirty Years' War, Heidelberg was reorganized as a secular institution and not affiliated with any religious organization.

During the next century and a half, the university's work went on under great difficulties, mainly because of wars with France. Stability did not return to the school until 1803, when the Palatinate ceded the town of Heidelberg to the Grand Duchy of Baden. Since the 19th century the university has been a renowned center of learning and has attracted many foreign students, including large numbers of Americans.

Heidelberg includes the disciplines of theology, law, theoretical and clinical medicine, Oriental and classical studies, modern philology, philosophy and history, economic and social sciences, chemistry, biology, mathematics, physics and astronomy, geosciences and pharmacy, as well as more than 80 institutes, clinics and seminars associated with the various facilities.

Courses of study at the University of Heidelberg lead to a "Diplom" or the degree of "Doktor." These courses, usually lasting four years, are roughly equivalent to work for an American master's degree. The university is under the jurisdiction of the ministry of education and is financed by the state of Baden Wurttemburg.                                     

The town of Heidelberg, located on the Neckar River not far from Mannheim, is one of the world's most famous cultural centers. The picturesque city is a tourist favorite.

Located on a summit above the city is the famous Heidelberg Castle, built mainly from the 14th through the 17th centuries. It is one of the most impressive historic landmarks of Germany. The structure is largely in ruins but it preserves numerous examples of medieval, Renaissance and baroque German architecture. Of particular interest are the four granite columns located in the~castle courtyard, which were once part of a castle belonging to Charlemagne.

The cellar of Heidelberg Castle contains the famed Heidelberg Tun, a wine vat with a huge capacity.

First mentioned in the 12th century, Heidelberg was the capital of the Palatinate until 1720. During the Reformation, the city was one of the chief strongholds of German Protestantism.

Following World War II the city became the headquarters for U. S. forces in Europe.