Speyer
Speyer (, older spelling "Speier", known as "Spire" in French and formerly as "Spires" in English) is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located on the left bank of the river Rhine, Speyer lies south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim, and south-west of Heidelberg. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities. Speyer Cathedral, a number of other churches, and the Altpörtel ("old gate") dominate the Speyer landscape. In the cathedral, beneath the high altar, are the tombs of eight Holy Roman Emperors and German kings. The city is famous for  the 1529 Protestation at Speyer. One of the ShUM-cities, Speyer and its Jewish courtyard is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. History. The first known names were "Noviomagus" and "Civitas Nemetum", after the Teutonic tribe, Nemetes, settled in the area. The name "Spira" is first recorded in the 7th century, taken from "villa Spira", a Frankish settlement situated outside of "Civitas Nemetum". Transportation. Speyer lies on the Schifferstadt-Wörth railway and offers hourly connections to Mannheim and Karlsruhe. Mayors. Since 1923 the mayor was a Lord Mayor. Twin towns – sister cities. Speyer is twinned with: