Located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, the city of Mannheim is situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar Rivers. Mannheim was a medieval village until a fortress was built there in the early 17th century. The new city was destroyed shortly thereafter during the Thirty Years’ War but was rebuilt around the end of the 17th century and during the 18th century the monumental Mannheim Palace and the graceful Baroque-style Jesuit Church were built. These structures are still standing and, together with the city’s distinctive water tower and lovely Luisenpark (named for Princess Luise Marie Elizabeth of Prussia), are some of its major landmarks.