Altstadt

Old town of Tübingen

Altstadt of Rothenburg/Tauber in 1900

Same view in modern day

Altstadt is the German language word for "old city", meaning "historical city centre within the city wall", in contrast to a Neustadt build outside later.

Many German towns have an Altstadt, even though the ravages of war have destroyed many of them, especially during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). In the "War of the Palatinian Succession" of 1688, the order to Brûlez le Palatinat! was executed by Mélac, devastating many cities and large parts of South Western Germany, like the Heidelberg castle.

Allied Strategic bombing during World War II destroyed nearly all large cities, with Dresden being the most prominent victim. Some smaller towns remained intact, such as Tübingen, Rothenburg ob der Tauber or Dinkelsbühl. Some Altstadt parts in Freiburg, Berlin, Frankfurt and famously Weimar have been painstakingly restored. Some German Altstädte, with gabled half-timbered houses and cobblestone markets, have been overhauled after copy-cat places had been built abroad to mimic them, like in 1955 the first Fantasyland in Disneyland.

Notable Altstadt districts in cities and towns:

• Altstadt (Frankfurt) in Frankfurt
• Altstadt (Düsseldorf)
• Altstadt (Heidelberg) in Heidelberg

Notable Altstadt districts in cities that formerly were inhabited also by a German-speaking population

• de:Prager Altstadt (Old Town, Prague)

Notable Altstadt districts in cities and towns that were destroyed

• de:Altstadt (Königsberg)