historical allegiances (a Lorsch holding from 773 to 1232, a Mainz holding until 1803, and after that Hessian), but without any reference to the town's time with the Electorate of the Palatinate, which from 1461 to 1623 held it from Mainz as a pledge. The old, historical coat of arms showed a sitting bishop, symbolizing Electoral Mainz's hegemony. Twin towns – sister cities Heppenheim is twinned with: Kaltern an der Weinstraße, Italy (1971) Le Chesnay, France (1975) West Bend, United States (2004) Sponsorship Since 1956, together with the town of Bubenreuth, there has been a sponsorship arrangement with regard to Luby, formerly Schönbach in the district of Eger in the Sudetenland (now in the Czech Republic). Culture and sightseeing Sightseeing Heppenheim has (as at 30 April 2008) 408 cultural monuments that are under monumental protection. The following is a selection: Marketplace with Town Hall, timber-frame houses and Marienbrunnen (fountain) Starkenburg (castle) on the Schlossberg (mountain) Catholic Parish Church of St. Peter (“Cathedral of the Bergstraße”) Electoral Mainz Amtshof Former power station built in 1899 in Gothic Revival style Open-air stage, built in 1955 on the Kappel, on the occasion of the 1,200-year jubilee Heppenheim has at its disposal a largely preserved, self-contained, picturesque Old Town core with an area of about 8 ha, within which are found all the sights mentioned in the foregoing list. The Old Town is characterized by timber-frame houses dating back mostly to the reconstruction in the early decades after Heppenheim's destruction in the Nine Years' War in 1693, which was done over the remains of the medieval town. Of the town wall, however, which was largely knocked down in the early 19th century, little remains. Regular events Important yearly events are: Heppenheimer Festspiele (festival, daily from mid to late July to early September) Bergsträßer Weinmarkt (wine market, late June) Internationales Weinmarkt-Stockschießturnier (international wine market and ice stock sport tournament, second weekend during wine market) Internationales Straßentheater beim Festival Gassensensationen (Street theatre, early July) Fastnachtsumzug (Carnival parade) Ferienspiele für Kinder von Vorschule bis 16 Jahren (children's summer holiday games, preschool to 16) Kirchweih (church consecration festival, first weekend in August) Regular events by Forum Kultur Starkenburg Observatory The Starkenburg-Sternwarte, an amateur observatory on the Schlossberg near the Starkenburg, has made a name for itself nationally in minor planet research. Museums and cultural institutions Museum für Stadtgeschichte und Volkskunde (town history and folklore) Musikschule (musical school) Konservatorium