The city of Heidelberg (approx. 150,000 inhabitants) lies between wooded hills, the foothills of the Odenwald, on the banks of the Neckar. Travelers from all over the world visit the university town in the north-west of Baden-Württemberg for its romantic buildings (old Neckar bridges, old town). The landmark of the city of Heidelberg and the most important tourist attraction is the castle. It stands above the city center, halfway up the Königstuhl mountain. Even from below, seen from the city, the castle forms a romantic photo motif. There is actually a ruin…
From the history of the Heidelberg Castle
In the Middle Ages, there was a castle on the area of today’s Heidelberg Castle. The first buildings of the castle were built in the 15th century. During the Thirty Years War, the palace, which served as the residence of the Electors of the Palatinate, was destroyed but rebuilt. But the Palatinate War of Succession (around 1690) also left its mark! After lightning struck the palace in 1764, causing a fire to break out, the electors left Heidelberg and settled in Mannheim. The ruin still served as a quarry for new buildings in Heidelberg. At the time of Romanticism (around 1800) painters and writers began to be enthusiastic about the (still impressive) ruin. They found her “romantic”. Heidelberg and its castle were widely celebrated in the 19th century and became a tourist attraction.
The castle tour
The best way for tourists to reach Heidelberg Castle is by mountain railway. The valley station of the funicular is down in town on Kornmarkt at a height of 113 m. The Heidelberg Castle station is 192 m above sea level and anyone entering the castle courtyard is impressed by the size of the partially restored buildings. Especially the Friedrichsbau with its beautiful facade and the Ottheinrichsbau, which dates from the Renaissance period, dominate the image of the building ensemble. The facade of the Friedrichsbau is decorated with statues, and the Ottheinrichsbau is also adorned with beautiful figures (eg biblical figures like David or allegories like “Hope” and “Love”). The Schlosskirche is located in the Friedrichsbau and the German Pharmacy Museum is located in the Ottheinrichsbau. It shows complete historical pharmacy furnishings as well as beautiful old porcelain medicine vessels. For many tourists, the biggest attraction in the castle is the “big barrel” that lies in a cellar. It has space for approx. 220,000 liters of wine, but is not filled! At the end of their visit to Heidelberg Castle, some tourists take the mountain railway to the summit of the Königstuhl to enjoy the wonderful view of the city on the Neckar.
Alpine road
The German Alpine Road leads from the eastern shore of Lake Constance to the Berchtesgadener Land National Park. The 450-kilometer-long oldest holiday route in Germany is considered to be one of the most beautiful roads in Germany. What is particularly fascinating about the German Alpine Road is the unique landscape with green forests, lush meadows and snow-capped mountain peaks in the Bavarian Alps. The Tegernsee and Chiemsee as well as the Zugspitze are also on the edge of the famous road. Especially in the summer months, the German Alpine Road is extremely popular with both motorists and motorcyclists from all over Europe. The winding road, which leads through a total of 64 health resorts, is divided into different sections that can be tackled individually or as a large multi-day tour.
Numerous excursion destinations
There are also countless excursion destinations along the German Alpine Road, such as the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle. In total, there are more than 25 palaces, monasteries and fortresses along the route, as well as many natural attractions that are well worth seeing, which repeatedly attract numerous tourists from home and abroad. Many holiday accommodations of all kinds should of course not be missing on the German Alpine Road. More than 20 crystal clear mountain lakes also provide welcome refreshment. A cycle path runs parallel to the road, which attracts countless tourists and locals, especially in spring and summer.
Bamberg
Bamberg is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. Above all, the beautiful old town with its many historical buildings and numerous narrow streets, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for several years, should not be missed when visiting the Upper Franconian university town.
Imperial Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Georg
The showpiece of Bamberg’s old town is the Imperial Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Georg, which is characterized, among other things, by its numerous treasures inside – including the grave of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife Kunigunde. Art and culture are also very important in Bamberg. In addition to the world-famous Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the artist’s house Villa Concordia and the ETA Hoffmann Theater in the city of 70,000 are always worth a visit. Numerous tourists from all over the world and countless locals visit the city’s many small and large galleries and museums every day. The sculpture park and the Fränkische Strasse der Skulpturen have long been more than insider tips in Bamberg.
Pure nature
The city of Bamberg is also characterized by beautiful natural and river landscapes. Cyclists and hikers all over the region get their money’s worth on the well-developed network of cycle and hiking trails. The beautiful rose garden with more than 4,500 roses is not only popular with flower lovers. “Pure nature” with many rare plants and animals can be experienced in the huge main moor forest at the gates of the city.
