Heidelberg

Historic city with the famous Heidelberg Castle

Heidelberg is a well-known city in Germany, and well worth a visit. This city is beautifully situated on the river Neckar. You can enjoy a nice walk, especially just outside the town. Then you have a different view of the city and the castle every time.

The town of Heidelberg is known for its historic city centre, with the Heidelberg Castle as the town’s pride and joy. It was originally built out of red sandstone from the Neckar valley, and it still towers above the city and the Neckar river. These are the must-see highlights of Heidelberg.

Heidelberg Castle

The famous Heidelberg Castle.

Heidelberg Castle, or Schloss Heidelberg, can be seen from afar. Both in the city and outside. It is made of sandstone of the Neckar valley, which gives it a red color. The castle lies about 80 meters above the valley.

The castle on the Königstuhl hill is still in a fair condition. Although it is seen as a castle ruin. And you can easily visit Heidelberg Castle. You can discover it yourself, but you can also take a tour with a guide.

It is unclear when the castle was built exactly. Although the castle was mentioned in the year 1225. The castle flourished during the German Renaissance. Which can be seen in particular at the Ottheinrichsbau. This is one of the palaces of the castle and unbelievably beautiful.

A view on Heidelberg Castle.

You will also see various gothic buildings. The castle is a special mix of towers, palaces, museums and gardens. One of the most special places is the pharmacy museum. You can also see an immense wine barrel in the castle, it has a capacity of 220,000 liters. It is one of the largest in the world. The residents were clearly wine lovers.

Gardens of Heidelberg Castle

The view from the gardens on the city.

The Garden of Heidelberg Castle is remarkably large. It is a good place for a stroll. You'll see numerous works of art in the garden. These are striking and according to many visitors scary and bizarre. But above all, the garden is the best place for a view of the city and the surrounding area. There are various viewpoints where you can enjoy yourself at leisure.

Address: Schlosshof 1


Cable car to Königsstuhl

The Heidelberger Bergbahn to Königsstuhl.

The Königsstuhl is Heidelberg's most famous hill. It is 570 meters high. You can take it on foot, but you can also take the Heidelberger Bergbahn, a two section historic funicular railway. It goes up the mountain remarkably slow. This allows you to take a good look around you.

The first stop is Heidelberg Castle. The second stop is the top. Where you find a restaurant. And what the start of various walking routes is.

Philosophers' Walk

The Philosophers' Walk in Heidelberg.

The Philosopher's Walk is a famous path on the slopes of the Heiligenberg. Numerous famous writers took it, including many philosophers. Think of Goethe, but also Mark Twain, for example. He could often be found in the city during the Romantic period at the end of the 19th century. The path zigzags up, which is fairly steep. Take your time. Along the way you have a wonderful view of the city and the surrounding hills.

Old Bridge

The Old Bridge of Heidelberg.

You will soon see the Old Bridge in Heidelberg. This pedestrian bridge over the Neckar dates from 1788 and is very popular with photographers. You can easily walk across the bridge, but the banks are also popular.

Its official name is Karl Theodor Brug. At the end of the bridge you will see two imposing towers. This bridge gate dates from the 18th century.

Heidelberg Bridge Monkey

A stop at the Heidelberg Bridge Monkey.

You can also see a bronze monkey on the bridge, a work of art that dates from 1979. In 1481 a real monkey lived on the bridge. He should terrify any passer-by. And let them know the Heidelbergers are in charge from this spot. It is a popular spot for selfies these days.

Church of the Holy Spirit

The Church of the Holy Spirit in Heidelberg is also made of red sandstone. Which makes him different than usual. Construction of the church began in 1398. History was literally written in the form of the Heidelberg Catechism. You can climb the tower for a special view of the city.

Address: Marktplatz

The oldest university in Germany

The Ruprecht Karl University is Germany's oldest university.

Ruprecht Karl University is Germany's oldest university. You can visit the university via a guided tour. And you walk past the most prominent buildings. Most impressive is the Great Hall.

Studentengevangenis

The historic student prison is located in the middle of Ruprecht Karl University. The prison is called Studentenkarzer in German. This  Students' Prison was founded in the 17th century to punish students. It was very common in Germany in the past.

The Students' Prison at Ruprecht Karl University.

Interestingly, many students saw a few nights in prison as part of their student life. you would not really have studied until you had been in student prison. Many cells have texts, paintings and scribbles of prisoners. It is a special place to visit.

Address: Augustinergasse 2

Visiting Heidelberg

Heidelberg is easily accessible via highways. This also applies to the train. The Hauptbahnhof is located in the center, so you get off straight into the city.

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