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 25 km (16 miles) south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim, and 21 km (13 miles) 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.

Main sights include:

• Cathedral
• Altpörtel - Old Town Gate
• Gedachtniskirche - Memorial church
• Dreifaltigkeitskirche - Trinity church
• Jewish courtyard - remnants of medieval synagogue and intact mikve
• Technikmuseum Speyer - Transportation Museum
• Historical Museum of the Palatinate