German Romanticism was a highly influential intellectual, artistic, and cultural movement that emerged from the University of Heidelberg in the late 18th century. Centered on a profound fascination with nature, human spirituality, and the power of the individual imagination, Romantic ideas had a transformative impact on German society, politics, and the arts.

Scholars at Heidelberg had long explored the boundary between the natural and supernatural worlds, providing fertile ground for the emergence of German Romanticism. Key Romantic ideals included veneration of the natural world, belief in the creative power of the human imagination, and fascination with folklore, mythology, and the supernatural. These principles found expression across the arts, from the grandiose landscapes of Caspar David Friedrich to the metaphysical poetry of Novalis and the fantastical musical compositions of Ludwig van Beethoven. As the drive for political unification gained momentum in the mid-1800s, Romantic nationalism became a powerful force, with Heidelberg itself becoming a rallying point and wellspring for this cultural-political movement. German Romanticism left an indelible mark on Western culture, with its influence still felt today.