Brochure for new citizens

Welcome to Heidelberg! Dear new citizen, I am pleased that you have chosen our city as your new home. Heidelberg is known for its scenic beauty, its internationality and diversity. Living in Heidelberg means having a home: the city derives its high quality of life from the attractive mix of living and working, research and culture. As a cosmopolitan city and “Rainbow City”, Heidelberg welcomes all people with open arms, regardless of their origin or sexual identity. We want you to feel at home here – and to that end, we support you in all areas of life: Families with children have access to an excellent childcare network. Schoolchildren can develop their talents to the full here, because Heidelberg is the best school location in Germany according to several studies. Low-income families receive targeted support in the form of a wide range of free services, and we also support trainees and students on their way, for example by subsidizing local public transport tickets and with the training house. Eleven senior citizen centers are available as contact points for all older citizens. A wide range of cultural, leisure and sporting activities, from theaters and half- marathons to festivals with top reputations, leaves nothing to be desired. Climate protection plays a central role in Heidelberg: for example, we promote the purchase of photovoltaic systems and electric cars, support climate-friendly renovations and are proud of our forests and green spaces. We are also proud of our many scientific and research institutions that take their ideas and solutions for a better future from Heidelberg to the world. First and foremost is Ruperto Carola, our university of excellence, which attracts many young people to study in our city every year thanks to its international appeal. We wish you a good start in our beautiful city and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Your Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner Mayor