Heidelberg

River Cities

Heidelberg, Germany

A prime tourist destination, Heidelberg’s center is compact and easy to explore. After 17th century wars, Heidelberg was rebuilt with Baroque structures laid out its Gothic street plan. Today, 30,000 of 144,000 residents are university students and another 15,000 are Americans associated with NATO and the US Army.

A 1.6 km stroll along the pedestrian-only main road takes you past several noteworthy attractions including Heidelberg University, Germany’s oldest, and the Marktplatz market. Cross Alte Brucke bridge for the Philosopher’s Walk and panoramic city views. Bergbahn funicular or a steep walk brings visitors up to Heidelberger Schloss castle, ruins and gardens.

First an ancient fortress, it’s been war damaged, lightning struck, then “quarried” for building materials to build homes until 1800. Expect crowds, don’t rush, and don’t miss Königsaal, Englischen Bau and Gläserner Saalbau and the 55,345 gallon wine vat, used long ago to store the wine residents paid as a tax.

The 1421 Heidelberg Library, Germany’s oldest public library, regained much of its historical archives lost to the Vatican centuries earlier, for its 600th anniversary.

The Bonsai Museum offers 100+ exhibits of highly specially trained Japanese, Chinese and Thai plants.

14th Century Heiliggeistkirche Cathedral was first Catholic, then erected a partition to enable both Catholic and Protestant services for 230 years, and now is Protestant affiliated.

Technick Museum Speyer, 40 minutes outside Heidelberg, offers enthusiastic attention to German planes, trains, automobiles and fire engines.

During the holiday season, Old Town’s Christmas Market shopping often concludes with a hot, mulled wine.