home Tests City of Heidelberg. Heidelberg is a beautiful city in Germany. Airfare low price calendar

City of Heidelberg. Heidelberg is a beautiful city in Germany. Airfare low price calendar

How to get to Heidelberg
Where to stay in Heidelberg
Sights of Heidelberg

How to get to Heidelberg

Heidelberg (Heidelberg) is the fifth largest city in Baden-Württemberg, located on the banks of the Neckar River and surrounded by several hills. Geographically located in the north of the region, in the valley of the river Neckar. Heidelberg is both a major tourist center with many preserved historical sights (the city was not affected by bombing during the Second World War), and a "university" city, since several large higher education institutions are concentrated here at once. educational institutions, including the ancient Heidelberg University. This makes Heidelberg related to another university town - Freiburg.

To get to Heidelberg from Moscow (or other cities), you first need to fly to one of the nearest transport hubs in the region - to Stuttgart or Frankfurt, and then by train, bus or taxi directly to Heidelberg. There is a longer time-consuming way - to use the services of Russian Railways and get to Karlsruhe on the branded train Moscow-Paris; further from Karlsruhe by train, bus or taxi to Heidelberg. We already wrote about how to get from Russia to Baden-Württemberg in different ways in a separate article. Today we will tell you more about how to get specifically to Heidelberg.

How to get from Stuttgart to Heidelberg

The distance between Stuttgart and Heidelberg is approximately 120 km. Heidelberg is located north of Stuttgart. By train, you can get from one city to another in 40 minutes - an hour and a half, depending on the type of train, by taxi in about 2 hours.

By train

Direct trains between Stuttgart and Heidelberg run every half an hour starting at 7.30 am (there are also night trains, but they run less frequently). The cheapest way to get there is to take the RE (regional) train. In this case, the travel time will take about an hour and a half (stops will be made along the way). The fastest, but also the most expensive way is to take the IC (trans-regional) high-speed train, then the journey time is only about 40 minutes.

To get to Heidelberg from Stuttgart by train, you need to take the S2 and S3 trains from Stuttgart Airport and get to Stuttgart Central Station (trains run from 5 am to midnight, travel time is about 30 minutes), from there transfer to a direct train to Heidelberg. You can check the train schedule on the official website of the German railways Deutsche Bahn. Tickets to Heidelberg can be purchased in advance on the website or at the ticket office of the Stuttgart railway station.

By bus

Buses from the airport and central station of Stuttgart to Heidelberg start running at 5.45 am. Transportation is carried out by Flixbus, Postbus, Deinbus and others. Travel time is from 2 to 2.5 hours. Buses leave once an hour. The last bus leaves at 23.45 at night. You can check the bus schedule for the Stuttgart-Heidelberg route on the Flixbus website.

By taxi

A taxi is a more expensive way to get from city to city than a train, but this method may be relevant in the case of a night flight (trains run less often at night), or in the case of a large number luggage (on Kiwitaxi you can order a car designed for different amount passengers and baggage). You can also order a taxi at the information desk at Stuttgart Airport.

How to get from Frankfurt to Heidelberg

Heidelberg is located 90 km south of Frankfurt am Main. You can get from Frankfurt Airport to Heidelberg by train or taxi. By rail, travel time will take a little less than an hour, by highway - also a little less than an hour, depending on traffic.

By train

Arriving at Frankfurt Airport, tourists can immediately transfer to rail transport, since there are 2 stations at the airport itself - from one (Regionalbahnhof) trains go to the city to the Frankfurt main railway station, from the other (Fernbahnhof) trains go to different cities in Germany. Thus, from the Fernbahnhof station, you can immediately transfer to the train to Heidelberg, which leaves once an hour, starting at 8 am (trains run less often at night). The only inconvenience of this method can be considered the need to make a transfer in Mannheim, since there are no direct trains from Frankfurt Airport to Heidelberg, however, the transfer itself, as a rule, does not take much time (about 10-20 minutes), therefore it does not greatly affect the overall duration of the trip. The schedule can be viewed on the official website of the German railways Deutsche Bahn.

There is another way to get to Heidelberg - this is to take an electric train at Frankfurt Airport from the Regionalbahnhof station to the central railway station, and from there transfer to a direct train to Heidelberg, which runs once an hour, starting at 6 am (at night - less often). Travel time will be a little over an hour, transfers are not required. Tickets to Heidelberg can be purchased in advance online, or at the ticket office of the Frankfurt railway station.

By bus

You can take the bus to Heidelberg at the airport or Frankfurt Central Station. The first bus starts running at 04.45 am, the last one departs from the airport at 0.25 am. Flights are operated by various companies, incl. Flixbus, Postbus, BerlinienBus and others. Travel time - from 1.5 hours to 1 hour 50 minutes. For Frankfurt-Heidelberg bus timetables, please visit Flixbus.

By taxi

Taxi is the more expensive way to get from Frankfurt to Heidelberg. On average, such a trip will cost from 160 euros and more one way. However, this method can be useful if you have an overnight flight to Frankfurt, as trains do not run regularly at night and getting to Heidelberg can be problematic. It will also be more convenient to take a taxi in case of a large amount of luggage. You can order a taxi right at the airport at the information desk in the arrivals terminal, or in advance via the Internet on the Kiwitaxi transfer booking website. Travel time will be approximately 50 minutes.

How to get from Karlsruhe to Heidelberg

Karlsruhe is a major railway junction of Baden-Württemberg and all of Germany, trains leave from here to the south - to Baden-Baden, Freiburg, Bodensee, Titisee and further to Strasbourg and other cities of France. Also, international branded trains Moscow-Paris pass through Karlsruhe station. For those who prefer rail to air or for various reasons cannot use airplanes, this option will be an alternative way to get to the cities of Baden-Württemberg. The distance between Karlsruhe and Heidelberg is about 55 km. You can overcome them both by train and by taxi. Travel time by train will be 45 minutes, by taxi - 1 hour 15 minutes.

By train

There are direct trains from Karlsruhe to Heidelberg every hour, including at night. The ticket price depends on the type of train. High-speed options like ICE and IC will cost more, but the journey will take only half an hour. Regional trains RE, RER, RB, etc. will cost less, while the travel time will be 45 minutes - 1 hour. There are also numerous transfer options in Mannheim, Bruchsal and other cities. You can check the train schedule on the official website of the German railways Deutsche Bahn. Tickets to Heidelberg can be purchased in advance on the website or at the ticket office of the railway station Karlsruhe.

By taxi

A taxi from Karlsruhe to Heidelberg will cost about 160 euros one way, the journey time is about 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the traffic. You can order a taxi at the information desk at the Karlsruhe railway station, or in advance via the Internet on the Kiwitaxi transfer booking website.

In addition to trains and taxis, another option to travel around Germany is to rent a car. In order to rent a car in Germany, you must have an international driving licence. In Germany, car rental services are provided by many large rental offices. In Karlsruhe, these are Avis, Budget, Enterprise. In Frankfurt, these are Global Drive, Budget, Buchbinder, Thrifty, InterRent, Caro, Alamo, Enterprise, etc. In Stuttgart, these are Alamo, InterRent, Enterprise, Thrifty, Europcar, Budget, Global Drive. In Heidelberg - Hertz, Global Drive, Alamo. The approximate cost of car rental per day is about 40 euros.

How to get from Munich to Heidelberg

You can also get to Heidelberg from Munich, although the cities are administratively located in different regions of Germany. The distance between the cities is 340 km, they are connected by the A8 highway through Stuttgart. A longer, but also cheaper way to get from Munich to Heidelberg is the bus. Direct buses to Heidelberg depart from the Munich Central Bus Station up to 10 times a day. The earliest departs at 06.15, the last - at 21.00. Travel time - from 5 to 5.5 hours depending on traffic. Schedule - Flixbus. The cost of a one-way trip starts from 15-17 euros.

There are no direct trains between Munich and Heidelberg, but there are routes with a small change in Mannheim. Travel time will be about 3 hours 20 minutes. Trains run throughout the day twice an hour. You can check the train schedule on the official website of the German railways Deutsche Bahn.

Where to stay in Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a rather compact city, most of the sights of the city can be seen within 1 day, so tourists mainly come here with one-day excursions and rarely stay longer. However, staying in Heidelberg for a few days, you can see not only the city itself, but also the picturesque suburbs. These, in particular, include the romantic valley of the Neckar River, the towns of Speyer, Forms, Ladenburg, Wiesloch, Schwetzingen, which deserve special attention of tourists.

The city, due to its compact size, is fairly easy to navigate. As a rule, tourists prefer to stay in areas such as Bergheim or Altstadt due to their proximity to the main attractions of the city. Sometimes tourists choose the Bahnstadt area to stay in close proximity to the train station (if necessary, travel by train). There are hotels of different star categories in the city, most of them provide free Wi-Fi, many hotels have their own parking, and some hotels include breakfast in the room rate. In general, the level of service in Heidelberg hotels is quite high, as well as throughout Germany.

Heidelberg Hotels

Heidelberg's hotel stock boasts all star categories, but the most common are 3 or 4 star hotels, as well as bed and breakfast hotels without stars, which are great for a 1-night stay in the city.

Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg City Center

The Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg City Center is located in the Bergheim district, within walking distance of the old town. The hotel has its own parking, restaurant and free Wi-Fi throughout. Outside the hotel is an outdoor terrace for relaxation. Comfort or superior rooms have air conditioning, safe, hair dryer, telephone, TV, satellite TV, work desk, coffee / tea set. Breakfasts may be included in the room rate, or may be paid extra depending on the type of room. The hotel received the highest ratings from guests for its location and professionalism of the staff.

The hotel reception is open 24 hours a day. Standard check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00. To find out more about availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates, please visit the Booking.com booking site.

Hotel Goldene Rose 3 stars

The Goldene Rose Hotel is located in the Old Town area, within walking distance of the main attractions of the city. Among the areas where to stay in Heidelberg, the Altstadt area is considered the most convenient for exploring the city. There is also a public transport stop nearby. Parking, free Wi-Fi, a summer terrace - all this is offered to hotel guests. All hotel rooms are divided into standard and "comfort" type. The rooms have everything you need, including a work desk, ironing facilities, TV, radio, telephone, hair dryer. Buffet breakfasts are included in the room rate. The hotel received the best reviews for its location, cleanliness of the rooms and the professionalism of the staff.

Check-in at the hotel is from 14.00, check-out is until 12.00. To find out more about availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates, please visit the Booking.com booking site.

Hotel Bayrischer Hof 3 stars

The Bayrischer Hof is located in the city centre, equidistant from the railway station and historical sights. There is a public transport stop next to the hotel. The area where the hotel is located is also great for shopping. The hotel has its own parking, free Wi-Fi throughout, luggage storage. The hotel has rooms of different categories: standard, superior, twin, junior suite. The standard room has a bathroom with hairdryer, telephone, cable TV, mini-bar. Breakfasts in all types of rooms are paid separately.

The best reviews of the hotel are left for the location, the cleanliness of the rooms and the professionalism of the staff. Check-in is from 16.00, check-out is until 10.30. To find out more about availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates, please visit the Booking.com booking site.

Hotel Heidelberger Hof 3 stars

The hotel is located in the university district of Heidelberg. The hotel has private parking, a sauna, a fitness room, and you can also rent bicycles. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. The hotel offers standard, comfort or junior suite rooms. The rooms have TV, safe, work desk, hair dryer, telephone, fan. Breakfast is included in some room types. The hotel receives the best ratings for its location and professionalism of the staff.

Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00. To find out more about availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates, please visit the Booking.com booking site.

Hotel Goldener Hecht

The hotel is located in the old town area near the historical monument - the gates of the city. The hotel has parking, free Wi-Fi throughout, a beer garden overlooking the historic city center. All rooms are equipped with shower, radio, TV, desk, telephone. Each room is made in a certain style. The hotel has superior rooms and even junior suites. Breakfasts are served at an additional cost. The hotel receives the highest ratings for its location and professionalism of the staff.

Check-in is from 13.00, check-out must be before 11.00. To find out more about availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates, please visit the Booking.com booking site.

Lotte - The Backpackers

Lotte - The Backpackers is a local hostel where you can stay in Heidelberg at a budget price. The hostel is located in the historical part of the city and offers both private rooms and places in a common room for 5 or 6 people. The hostel has parking, and inside the entire territory you can use free Wi-Fi. The hostel also offers a shared kitchen where you can prepare breakfast/dinner. The hostel received the best reviews for its location, professionalism of the staff and cleanliness of the rooms. Also among the best, guests also noted the price / quality ratio of the services provided.

Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00. To find out more about availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates, please visit the Booking.com booking site.

Sights of Heidelberg

Heidelberg (Heidelberg) is one of the most picturesque towns in southern Germany. Nestled in the Neckar valley and surrounded by hills and highlands, the city miraculously survived the bombings, it has the largest number of historical sights in the entire region, and the longest pedestrian street in Europe makes Heidelberg a desirable travel destination. The tourist flow to the city does not dry out year-round. There are also many students here, since the University of Heidelberg is considered the oldest in Germany, and studying here is desirable and prestigious.

The nearest international airports to Heidelberg are located in Stuttgart and Frankfurt (120 and 90 km respectively). From there, all the way to Heidelberg can be reached by high-speed or regional trains, or by taxi.Also major cities located near Heidelberg, are considered Mannheim and Heilbronn, not devoid of their architectural charm.

Most often, Heidelberg is visited with a one-day excursion, this is quite enough to see the main sights of the city, however, staying in Heidelberg longer, you can also get acquainted with the picturesque natural surroundings and the surrounding suburbs, which also have preserved many architectural sights. It's really worth it.

For guests of the city, the infrastructure is well developed here: public transport and a funicular are designed to facilitate movement around the city, and Heidelberg hotels offer all the necessary services and services.

The sights of Heidelberg are extremely diverse: these are historical monuments (the central of which is Heidelberg Castle), and cultural (many interesting museums, such as the Palatinate Museum or the Museum of Antiquity, the German Museum of Packaging or the Max Berk Textile Museum), natural (mountains and forests in the area , which are equipped with observation platforms and hiking trails), as well as many park and garden areas.

heidelberg castle

Heidelberg Castle is included in the list of 100 most beautiful places in Germany, and this is no coincidence. A huge architectural complex in the style of German romanticism was built 5 centuries ago and served as a home for royalty. Today, the castle, located at the highest point of the city, rises on the old quarters and makes an indelible impression on the guests and residents of Heidelberg, and the views of the castle are equally attractive both in the daytime and in the evening, when the sun begins to set below the horizon, and at night, when the castle is illuminated by multiple illuminations. Heidelberg Castle consistently ranks among the ten most beautiful castles in Baden-Württemberg.

The castle is open to visitors from 8 am to 6 pm daily, the main view is the exterior, because. The interiors of the castle have not been preserved. Entrance to the castle costs 6 euros, audio guides - 5 euros (available in Russian).

old bridge

The bridge over the river Neckar was built in the 18th century from sandstone. There are only a few bridges of this type in Europe. From the side of the old city, the bridge is decorated with medieval gates, which are also an independent landmark of the city. In addition, the old bridge is decorated with several sculptural groups, in the center of one is a statue of Prince Karl Theodor (the initiator of the creation of the bridge), in the center of the other is a sculpture of the Roman goddess Minerva. The Old Bridge is completely pedestrian and is part of the longest pedestrian street in Europe. It is through the bridge that you can get to the old part of the city and further to the Heidelberg Castle.

Historical Buildings

Heidelberg is administratively divided into several districts, one of which is Altstadt (literally - "old town"). It is here that the largest number of preserved historical monuments is concentrated. In particular, such historical buildings include the building of the old university (founded in 1386), made in the Baroque style, in which more than 30 thousand students from different parts of the world study at 12 different faculties, the entrance to the university is free and accessible to tourists.

Karlstor, or Karl's Gate, is another well-preserved landmark located in the eastern part of the city. The construction of the gate dates back to 1775, the architectural style is neoclassical, with elements of Romanesque architecture, the gate is decorated with 4 lions, symbolizing the power and power of the former kings.

The City Hall, built in the early 18th century, is a mix of styles. Traditional elements are mixed here with elaborate rococo details, but this does not create the impression of disunity, rather, on the contrary, it demonstrates continuity in art. Such a mixture of styles is typical for many buildings in Europe and is associated with the need for rebuilding and reconstruction. City Hall in Heidelberg last time underwent reconstruction at the beginning of the 20th century.

In the old quarter, some residential buildings are also of interest, for example, the residential building Zum Ritter (“at the knight”) dates back to 1592 and is considered the oldest residential building that has survived in the city; Of interest is the Kornmarkt square with the statue of the Virgin Mary, St. Peter's Church, the university library, the Hexenturm tower and others.

City squares, Botanical garden, zoo

The city has preserved several beautiful old squares at once, which are perfect for tourist walks surrounded by historical buildings - these are Bismarkplatz, Karlsplatz, Marktplatz, and university square. In addition to urban landscapes, the city is ready to offer several landscaped park areas. These, in particular, include the Botanical Gardens (on the territory of Heidelberg University). The Heidelberg Gardens are considered the oldest botanical gardens in Germany (founded in 1593). It has unique collections of plants and flowers that grow in different ecosystems, such as upper swamps, alpine meadows, wooded dunes or vineyards.

The zoo in Heidelberg was built relatively recently, but has already managed to gain fame thanks to the collection of animals living in the zoo. These are lions, and tigers, and brown bears, and pandas, and giant tortoises. Also on the territory of the zoo there is a zone for feeding fur seals, and there is also a separate zone where elephants live. The zoo is organized in such a way that there is a lot of entertainment for children, and there are also places for outdoor picnics. The zoo is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm, the entrance fee is 10 euros for adults and 5 euros for children. The Heidelberg Zoo is made in the image and likeness of the zoos in Stuttgart and Munich, but in a smaller size.

Transport in Heidelberg is represented by tram and bus lines, although the main sights can be seen walking along the pedestrian part of the city. If there is a need to get from the historical part of Heidelberg to the new one, then there are 6 tram and 12 bus routes in the city, the cost of a single trip is 1.10 euros.

Also, tourists traveling by car may need to park the car. In the city, although in small numbers, there are public free parking. You should look for them in the following places: Leo's Fine Food & Wine (exact address - 69 Cape Street, open parking, designed for 220 parking spaces, maximum parking time - 2 hours); Heidelberg Station (exact address - Yarra Street, open-air parking, 300 spaces, popular).

What to see in the surroundings

Heidelberg is famous not only for its attractions inside the city, but also for its landscapes in the surrounding area. Around the city there are many hiking trails that allow you to see the city from a height from specially organized viewing platforms. For those who do not want to climb the mountain on foot, there is a funicular. In addition to nature, the surroundings of Heidelberg can also be found in several picturesque small towns, which are famous for their sights and atmosphere. These, in particular, include Kirchheim, Ziegelhausen, Rohrbach, but the palace and park complex in Schwetzingen deserves special attention.

Observation decks and funicular lift

Around Heidelberg there are several natural observation platforms at once, this is due to the fact that Heidelberg is located in a valley. The most famous places for viewing the city from top to bottom are Mount Heiligenberg, Mount Königstuhl and Mount Molkencourt.

Heiligenberg is located on the north side of the city, its height is approximately 440 meters. At the top of the mountain are the ruins of St. Stephen's Abbey, and this is another reason to climb Heiligenberg. In addition, on the neighboring peak you can also find the ruins of another abbey - the abbey of Saint Michel. Both points offer picturesque views of the Neckar valley.

Königstuhl has a height of 568 meters, from here you can see not only Heidelberg, but also the entire Neckar valley and even partly the Rhine valley. Apart from observation deck, you can also find a family theme park and an observatory here.

The Molkencourt mountain, which is located just below the Königstuhl, also offers breathtaking views of Heidelberg and the valley. In addition, here you can not only visit during a sightseeing walk, but also stay longer, because there is a hotel with a terraced view and a restaurant surrounded by a picturesque forest.

The Heidelberg funicular travels along its route to all the most interesting places in the city. Starting at the Kornmarkt, the carriages pass the Heidelberg Castle station and then climb Mount Molkenkur. Further, if you wish, you can stay here, or you can climb even higher - to Mount Königshtul, but on another funicular. The fare for the lower funicular is 7 euros, the fare for the entire route, including Mount Königstuhl, is 12 euros. In summer, the funicular operates from 9 am to 8 pm (wagons depart every 20 minutes). In winter, the funicular operates until 5 pm. Cable cars and funiculars in the Black Forest are not uncommon, this is the most convenient way to see the local mountains. Similar funiculars can also be found in Baden-Baden and Karlsruhe.

Trail of Philosophers

Since the city is considered "university", it is not surprising that the hiking trail around Heidelberg was also named poetically, and the name itself is associated with education. The Philosophers' Trail passes through the surroundings of Heidelberg, revealing the best landscapes of the city and the Neckar valley. Many sites along the route were named after various philosophers - Eichendorff, Merian, Holderlin.

In addition, during the route you can also visit the "gardens of philosophers" - that's what they call botanical gardens located on the hills of the valley. Since the climate of Heidelberg is close in its properties to Italian Tuscany, many heat-loving plants have perfectly taken root here - Japanese sakura, cypresses, lemons, bamboos, rhododendrons, gingko and much more. The landscape garden has collected so many interesting flora that it has become a tourist attraction in its own right.

The small but picturesque town of Schwetzingen is located 8 km from Heidelberg. It is famous, first of all, for its palace and park complex, the appearance of which dates back to the 14th century. Previously, the residence of the rulers of the German lands was located here, the palace reached its peak during the reign of Prince Karl Theodor, at the same time, extensive (70 hectares) park areas around the palace were designed.

Part of the park area is made in the traditional English style, while the garden of the palace was made in the Baroque style. There are more than 100 different sculptures on the territory of the park, in addition, several interesting architectural structures are located here at once - the temple of Apollo, a summer house, the design of which resembles small Italian villas, and, you will be surprised, here you can even find a small mosque with minarets, decorated with oriental ornaments and made in the late baroque style (the mosque never served religious purposes).

Inside the palace, you can also find a lot of interesting things, since the original interiors have been preserved here. Of particular note is the Rococo Theatre, which can be found in the north wing of the palace. Inside the palace, you can only move around with organized tours, which are held daily from 11 cheers to 4 pm (on weekends - until 5 pm). The cost of the tour is 10 euros. Entrance to the gardens can be independent (without a tour), the entrance fee is 6 euros. The gardens are open from 9 am to 8 pm in summer and until 5 pm in winter. If you are attracted by visiting the "palace" cities, then the towns of Rastatt near Karlsruhe and Ludwigsburg, located near Stuttgart, will seem no less interesting to you.

How to get to Heidelberg

Heidelberg (Heidelberg) is the fifth largest city in Baden-Württemberg, located on the banks of the Neckar River and surrounded by several hills. Geographically located in the north of the region, in the valley of the river Neckar. Heidelberg is both a major tourist center with many preserved historical sights (the city was not affected by bombing during the Second World War), and a “university” city, since several large higher education institutions are concentrated here, including the ancient Heidelberg University.

How to get from Stuttgart to Heidelberg

By train or bus

To get to Heidelberg from Stuttgart by train, you need to take the S2 and S3 trains from Stuttgart Airport and get to Stuttgart Central Station (trains run from 5 am to midnight, travel time is about 30 minutes), from there transfer to a direct train to Heidelberg. You can check the train schedule at the railway service . Tickets to Heidelberg can be purchased in advance on the website or at the ticket office of the Stuttgart railway station.

Buses from the airport and central station of Stuttgart to Heidelberg start running at 5.45 am. Transportation is carried out by companies , Postbus, Deinbus and others. Travel time is from 2 to 2.5 hours. Buses leave once an hour. The last bus leaves at 23.45 at night.

By taxi

Taxi is a more expensive way to get from city to city than a train, but this method may be relevant in case of a night flight (trains run less often at night), or in case of a large amount of luggage. You can order a taxi at the information desk at Stuttgart Airport or in advance at the transfer service

Kismihok/Heidelberg

How to get from Frankfurt to Heidelberg

By train or bus

The only inconvenience of this method can be considered the need to make a transfer in Mannheim, since there are no direct trains from Frankfurt Airport to Heidelberg, however, the transfer itself, as a rule, does not take much time (about 10-20 minutes), therefore it does not greatly affect the overall duration of the trip. Schedule can be viewed on the railway service .

You can take the bus to Heidelberg at the airport or Frankfurt Central Station. The first bus starts running at 04.45 am, the last one departs from the airport at 0.25 am. Flights are operated by various companies, incl. , Postbus, BerlinienBus and others. Travel time is from 1.5 hours to 1 hour 50 minutes.

By taxi

Taxi is the more expensive way to get from Frankfurt to Heidelberg. However, this method can be useful if you have an overnight flight to Frankfurt, as trains do not run regularly at night and getting to Heidelberg can be problematic. It will also be more convenient to take a taxi in case of a large amount of luggage. You can order a taxi right at the airport at the information desk in the arrivals terminal, or in advance via the Internet on the transfer booking website . Travel time will be approximately 50 minutes.

Tobias von der Haar/Heidelberg

Where to stay in Heidelberg

Heidelberg's hotel stock boasts all star categories, but the most common are 3 or 4 star hotels, as well as bed and breakfast hotels without stars, which are great for a 1-night stay in the city.

Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg City Center

The hotel reception is open 24 hours a day. Standard check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Hotel Goldene Rose 3 stars

Check-in at the hotel is from 14.00, check-out is until 12.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Hotel Bayrischer Hof 3 stars

The best reviews of the hotel are left for the location, the cleanliness of the rooms and the professionalism of the staff. Check-in is from 16.00, check-out is until 10.30. You can find out more about the availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Hotel Heidelberger Hof 3 stars

Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

dmytrok/Heidelberg

Sights of Heidelberg

heidelberg castle

The castle is open to visitors from 8 am to 6 pm daily, the main view is the exterior, because. The interiors of the castle have not been preserved. Entrance to the castle costs from 6 euros, audio guides - 5 euros (available in Russian).

old bridge

Abhijeet Rane / Heidelberg Castle and Old Bridge

Historical Buildings

Karlstor, or Karl's Gate, is another well-preserved attraction located in the eastern part of the city. The construction of the gate dates back to 1775, the architectural style is neoclassical, with elements of Romanesque architecture, the gate is decorated with 4 lions, symbolizing the power and power of the former kings.

The City Hall, built in the early 18th century, is a mix of styles. Traditional elements are mixed here with elaborate rococo details, but this does not create the impression of disunity, rather, on the contrary, it demonstrates continuity in art. Such a mixture of styles is typical for many buildings in Europe and is associated with the need for rebuilding and reconstruction. Heidelberg City Hall was last refurbished in the early 20th century.

dmytrok/Heidelberg

City squares, Botanical garden, zoo

What to see in the surroundings

Observation decks and funicular lift

Königstuhl has a height of 568 meters, from here you can see not only Heidelberg, but also the entire Neckar valley and even partly the Rhine valley. In addition to the observation deck, you can also find a family theme park and an observatory here.

The Molkencourt mountain, which is located just below the Königstuhl, also offers breathtaking views of Heidelberg and the valley. In addition, you can not only visit here during a sightseeing walk, but also stay longer, since there is hotel with terrace view and a restaurant surrounded by a picturesque forest.

The Heidelberg funicular travels along its route to all the most interesting places in the city. Starting at the Kornmarkt, the carriages pass the Heidelberg Castle station and then climb Mount Molkenkur. Further, if you wish, you can stay here, or you can climb even higher - to Mount Königshtul, but on another funicular. The fare on the lower funicular is 7 euros, the fare along the entire route, including Mount Königstuhl, is 12 euros. In summer, the funicular operates from 9 am to 8 pm (wagons depart every 20 minutes). In winter, the funicular operates until 5 pm. Cable cars and funiculars in the Black Forest are not uncommon, this is the most convenient way to see the local mountains.

Sebastian Müller/Heidelberg

Trail of Philosophers

In addition, during the route you can also visit the "Gardens of the Philosophers" - this is the name of the botanical gardens located on the hills of the valley. Since the climate of Heidelberg is close in its properties to Italian Tuscany, many heat-loving plants have perfectly taken root here - Japanese sakura, cypresses, lemons, bamboos, rhododendrons, gingko and much more. The landscape garden has collected so many interesting flora that it has become a tourist attraction in its own right.

Entrance to the gardens can be independent (without a tour), the entrance fee is from 6 euros. The gardens are open from 9 am to 8 pm in summer and until 5 pm in winter. If you are attracted by visiting the "palace" cities, then the towns of Rastatt near Karlsruhe and Ludwigsburg, located near Stuttgart, will seem no less interesting to you.

Francois Philipp/Schwetzingen Heidelberg, Germany

Heidelberg is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. The castle, the old town and the river flowing between the mountains are united in a harmonious ensemble. Poets and artists of the Romantic era found inspiration here. And still the city fascinates millions of tourists from all over the world.

The ancient city is comfortably spread out on the banks of the Neckar River, at the junction of the lands of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Reiland-Palatinate - in one of the most densely populated regions of Germany. The city is picturesque, cozy, interesting in every respect, very beautiful and rich in sights.

The oldest university in Germany is founded in Heidelberg (Heidelberg). It bears the name of Karl-Ruprecht 1, who in 1386 opened a university with the faculties of theology, law, medicine and philosophy.
Today, the university has 12 faculties in 160 specialties.
Thanks to Elector Frederick III, in the 16th century Heidelberg became the center of European culture and science, which attracted professors and students from all over Europe to the university.

The old building of the university, today the rector's office and the museum are located here

Among the students and teachers of Heidelberg University at different times were German physicists Max Born, Robert Mössbauer, Gustav Kirchhoff, natural scientist Robert Bunsen, Dutch physicist Kamerling-Onnes, American cardiac surgeon Michael DeBakey (first heart transplant), German Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl. The lists of professors at Heidelberg University include the names of the great philosophers Georg Hegel and Karl Jaspers, the famous sociologist-economist Max Weber. The department of physiology at one time at the university was headed by the great German physicist, doctor, physiologist and psychologist Hermann Helmholtz. From the walls of the university came 8 Nobel laureates!

The village in the old building is very beautiful.

Many well-known Russian celebrities studied here or had an internship: composer A.P. Borodin, chemist D.I. Mendeleev, ophthalmologist E. A. Junge, mechanic I. A. Vyshnegradsky, surgeon L. A. Beckers, embryologist A. O. Kovalevsky, botanist A. S. Famintsyn, mycologist M. S. Voronin, physiologist I.M. Sechenov, historians K. Sluchevsky and S. Solovyov, S. V. Eshevsky. Surgeon N.I. worked here. Pirogov. An outstanding graduate of this university was the traveler, anthropologist and ethnographer Miklouho-Maclay. Somewhat later, poets Osip Mandelstam and Sasha Cherny attended lectures here. The future Russian Empress, wife of Nicholas II (since 1894) Alexandra Feodorovna, nee Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt, studied in Heidelberg. The first Russian female mathematician Sophia Kovalevskaya graduated from Heidelberg University.

Today, the university campus has spread to almost the entire city. The old buildings partly serve as a museum.

This building houses the university library.

University Hospital

New university building

And the university city itself was first mentioned in 1196. Modern Heidelberg is not only a world-famous research center, but also the economic and cultural center of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.

Cozy, charming streets, magnificent squares, richly decorated Renaissance buildings, majestic churches and many other sights of Heidelberg do not leave anyone indifferent. There are many elegant street cafes, restaurants and colorful bars around.

The historic center of Heidelberg is the oldest part of the city.
Since the Middle Ages, the Market Square (Marktplatz) has been the main center of city life. Here is the city hall, built in the Baroque style (1701-1703).

In the past, not only fairs were held on the square, but also executions, the burning of witches and heretics.
Now fairs are held here twice a week. In the center of the square there is a fountain of the beginning of the 18th century, depicting Hercules.

The attraction of Heidelberg is the stone Karl-Theodor Bridge, built by this elector in 1701-1703.

There is a monument to Elector Karl-Theodor on the Old Bridge, and there are other sculptural structures.

The Old Bridge is completed by the city gates and two watchtowers.

Of interest is the Kornmarkt square, in the center of which there is a copy of the Madonna on a pedestal (the original is in the museum). Not far from here you can take the lift to the castle.

Another attraction is the Heidelberg Castle with its rich history. The famous "Romantic Ruins" - this is the name of this castle in Germany.
The castle towering over the city, as if detached from the world, has become a symbol of German romance.

The architectural and park complex seems to radiate a very special combination of eternity and frailty, which creates a unique atmosphere. The architecture of the castle mixed several styles: German Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance.

Equipped with towers, casemates and a fortified bypass moat, the castle was built in 1300 and for the next four hundred years served as a kind of visiting card for the Electors of the Palatinate.

But the castle was expecting a series of disastrous events. It was destroyed by the troops of Louis XIV during the War of Palatinate Succession (1693), and two more lightning strikes in 1537 and 1764. helped turn it into ruins. The castle has been restored only partially, as it appears before us.

But the ruins overgrown with ivy still testify to the former power of the former owners - the Wittelsbach dynasty.

The castle complex consists of several buildings, which got their names from the names of the electors under whom they were built (Ruprecht's Corps, Ludwig V's Corps, Friedrich II's Corps, Otto-Heinrich's Corps, Friedrich IV's Corps).

The oldest residential building, the Gothic Ruprecht Building, houses the Museum of the History of Heidelberg Castle, an old library, and a fountain. Inside it is decorated with a magnificent Renaissance fireplace.

The Otto-Heinrich building with a rich facade decoration is considered the first palace building in Germany. It is decorated with beautiful sculptures.

The first pharmacy in the world used to be located here, on the site of which the Pharmacy Museum is now located, where you can learn a lot of interesting things about the history of pharmaceuticals.

The building of Frederick IV is best preserved, the facade of which is decorated with statues of representatives of the Electoral dynasty. Sixteen sculptures are located on the facade of the building - this is a gallery of portraits of the ancestors of the Wittelsbach family.

In the Frederick IV Corps is the Heidelberg barrel with a dance floor on top, it is the world's largest barrel of wine, made to store the "taxes" that were levied in the form of wine from the winemakers of the Palatinate (capacity 212,422 liters).

Under Frederick V, who dreamed of creating a Garden of Eden on earth, a magnificent park was founded, which died as a result of military battles. Only the memories of contemporaries remain in the descriptions, which mention luxurious terraces, flower beds and sculptures, ponds and waterfalls, and even a winter garden with orange trees.

Various events and balls are held in the castle's festive hall, and summer festivals are held in the courtyard.

Fireworks are traditionally held here three times a year.
An indelible impression is made by the illuminated castle when Old city stays in the dark. The first such illumination took place in 1815, when the Austrian King Franz II, the Russian Tsar Alexander 1, the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III and Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria were in Heidelberg.

The castle was visited by such famous people, like the German reformist theologian Martin Luther, the writers Victor Hugo, who described the history of the castle in his book "Heidelberg", and Mark Twain, who also mentioned the castle in his works.

Today, Heidelberg Castle is the pride of Germany, a reminder of its former glory and a mute reproach to the ruthless conquerors who destroyed values. Every year the castle receives thousands of tourists, appearing before them in all the grandeur of its former glory.

Without a doubt, Heidelberg is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany, attracting millions of tourists from all over the world. Today's Heidelberg combines historical charm, modern technology and science. The diverse cultural life of the city is rich in concerts, festivals, lectures.

Heidelberg is the most important business center of the Rhine-Neckar region; Numerous international companies are based here.

We decided to complete our acquaintance with Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse in Heidelberg (Heidelberg in Russian transcription). Actually, Heidelberg belongs to the state of Baden-Württemberg, but from Hessian Mainz to Heidelberg is a little over an hour away by car. Looking at the pretty pictures in the guidebook, I had no idea how beautiful this old university town on the Neckar River is.

We arrived in Heidelberg in the evening, hardly found a place in the underground parking Karlsplatz (it is marked under the number 13 on city signs) and, right from the car, plunged into the hustle and bustle of a Sunday evening in one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. Seeing a majestic church nearby, crowned with an onion dome and an elegant spire, we moved towards it. It turned out that we are on the right track 🙂
The Church of the Holy Spirit stands on the main medieval square of the city - Marktplatz. It is considered the largest Gothic temple in the lands of the Palatinate. As often happened in ancient times, the construction of the church dragged on for a good 150 years: from 1398 to 1544.

Once upon a time, the unique Palatine Library was kept within its walls. The rarest manuscripts, donated by local counts palatine and patron Fugger, were presented to the public on special music stands. For reliability, the books were chained with locks, which did not save them from the Kaiser commander Tilly. The latter, having captured Heidelberg in 1622, ordered the Palatine Library to be transported to Rome, where to this day it is part of the Vatican book collection, with the exception of part of the German manuscripts returned to Heidelberg University and the songs of the minnesingers, redeemed in 1888.

View of the choir of the church, where the Palatine Library was previously kept.

Entrance to the church is free, and for climbing the tower they take 2 euros. An elderly minister of the church, who speaks excellent French, urged us to climb the tower. We listened and did not regret. From the tower of the Church of the Holy Spirit, the whole old Heidelberg is perfectly visible. First of all, we turned our eyes to the castle of the Electors of the Palatinate.

Then the eye caught on the thread of the funicular, called the Bergbahn, and stopped at the top of the Königstuhl (Royal Throne).

Sliding down the green slope, the eye lingers on the Jesuit Church and the massive rectangle of the Jesuit Collegium.

A large old building with a black, with a “fracture” roof and a clock tower is the famous Heidelberg University.

Behind the tiled roofs of the Old Town, the Neckar is visible - a beautiful and willful river, which more than once caused considerable damage to the city with its violent floods. A narrow strip of modern houses stretches along the right bank of the Neckar, and the famous Philosofenweg - the Philosophers' Trail - is visible on the slope above.

Carl-Theodor Brücke or Alte Brücke (Old Bridge) was thrown across the Neckar. The gate leading to the bridge is named as it should be: Brukkentor.

Among the beautiful, but subtly similar houses of the 18th century, the eye grabs a luxurious red facade. This is the Knight's House, one of the most beautiful in Germany.

Here, on the church tower, we outlined the main goals of getting to know Heidelberg. The castle of the counts palatine Wittelsbach, of course, became a priority. The castle is located quite high above the city. At the Kornmarkt (Grain Market) is the lower station of the funicular. It is very convenient to climb up to the castle. Moreover, the cost of the funicular ticket is included in the entrance fee.

Kornmarkt square. In the depths on the left, the lower station of the funicular is visible.

We did not know this, and after a small family conflict caused by a toad, we went on foot. The ascent was very difficult for me. I was sweaty and could hardly catch my breath. When we got to the castle gate, it turned out that we had to pay the same 12E for two 🙁 . As a result, breathing was restored, tickets were bought safely and we ended up on the altan - a terrace on a vaulted base.

The ruins of Frauenzimmerbau or the female half adjoin the altan, where court ladies used to live. We will repeatedly meet in the castle with the “bau” (as various buildings on its territory are called) and, alas, with the ruins. The castle was deliberately destroyed in 1693 by order of the French "Sun King" Louis XIV. Something later managed to be restored, but much remained in ruins.

Wonderful views open up from the Altan. But you can’t really see the castle 🙂

To the left is the bell tower of the Jesuit Church, to the right behind the crane you can see the roof and tower of the university, even to the right is the Church of the Holy Spirit.

We enter the castle through an arch under the magnificent Friedrichsbau, i.e. Palace of the Palatinate Friedrich, built of local red sandstone and decorated with many statues of local rulers. They say that they are cramped in the narrow niches of the facade. Friedrich, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Elector of the Holy Roman Empire and others, others, others, managed to see his offspring finished. The palace was completed in 1607 and its creator died 3 years later at the age of 36. It is possible that Friedrich's body simply could not stand the constant libations. No wonder the phrase is often found in his diary: “Yesterday I was brutally drunk.”

Friedrichsbau. Yard facade.

He should not be brutally drunk if a “Big Barrel” is installed in the dungeon next to his palace. A special building was even built for her, adjacent to the Friedrichsbau on the left. Through the vaulted arch you can get to the “Big barrel”.

We respectfully looked at her, considering the largest in the world. They waited for the moment when there were no Chinese in the frame, and captured it for history.

Only after a couple of minutes we realized that this was not the “Big Barrel”. That is, it is, of course, big, but not with a capital letter. The barrel, which we mistakenly considered large, holds only 125,000 liters, was created more than 400 years ago under Elector Johann Casimir.
And the real “Big Barrel” is not just big, but huge. It is located in a nearby basement, where you have to go down a steep staircase, and then, along an equally steep staircase, climb the barrel itself. Photographing it entirely is impossible with all the desire. And there are a lot of people around the Bochka.

The “big barrel” holds almost 222,000 liters of wine. Its length is 8.5 meters, height is 7 meters. On top of the barrel there is a disco dance floor. The barrels were enough for the elector, his entourage and numerous guests to drink 2000 liters of wine daily.

View from the “Big Barrel” down to the basement. On the wall is a statue of the dwarf Perkeo.

Who was this Perkeo and why was he honored with a statue? A native of South Tyrol, he never got drunk and served as a court jester and "guard" of the Barrel in the first half of the 17th century. He got his nickname, thanks to the invariable answer to the question: “Does he want more wine?” "Why not?" - answered the one that in Italian sounds like “Perche no?” According to local legend, Perkeo died when he was persuaded to drink a glass of plain water. To this day, it serves as a symbol of the local carnival.

Once again in the courtyard of the castle, you begin to notice something wrong. In half of the buildings, the sky shines through the windows. These are traces of the destruction caused by the War of the Palatinate Succession. After the war, local electors tried to restore the castle, but in 1764 it burned down again due to a lightning strike. beautiful palaces are still half in ruins. For example, the Gothic Ruprechtsbau from the very beginning of the 15th century.

The Librarybouw adjoins the Ruprechtsbau Palace with the magnificent Kaiser Hall on the ground floor (visit only with a guided tour). It was built under Ludwig V for the Elector's personal library, mint and treasury.

On the left is the Ruprechtsbau with the Kaiser Hall, on the right is the Librarybouw. It is easy to distinguish by its elegant bay window.

Later, under Ludwig V, a guardhouse with a square gallery of the Brunnenhalle and utility rooms were built, called the Economy Geboide (Economy Building).

Brunnehalle with columns and vaulted arches. To the left is Ekonomiegeboide, which has a very modest facade. Ruins of Apothekerturm (Pharmacy Tower), Ludwigsbau and Glockenturm (Bell Tower). View from the park.

Ludwig's successor Frederick II built the Gothic-Renaissance Mirror Palace (Glasner Saalbau). Its façade features magnificent arcades and a sundial. In 1764, lightning struck him, causing a terrible fire that raged for three days. All the interior decoration of the palace perished in the fire, including the front hall with Venetian mirrors, which at that time were an unheard of luxury. The palace got its name from the hall of mirrors lost in the fire.

Each elector added something of his own to the castle, often ordering the demolition of what was built by his predecessors. Renaissance Ottheinrichsbau, decorated with statues of the forefathers (characters old testament), virtues and ancient gods: Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, etc. erected, destroying to the ground part of the palace of Ludwig V.
As you may have guessed, the palaces are named after the rulers, by which order they were built. Ruprechtsbau is named after Elector Ruprecht, and Ottheinrichsbau after Otto Heinrich.

Facade of the Ottheinrichsbau

On the ground floor of the Ottoheinrichsbau is the German Pharmacy Museum. His inspection, as well as a visit to the "Big Barrel", are included in the ticket price. The museum was transferred to Heidelberg in 1944 from Munich due to the destruction of the war, and was left in the castle. The museum is interesting not only for doctors and pharmacists, but also for mere mortals. Its exposition is several orders of magnitude richer and more interesting than the popular pharmacies-museums in St. Petersburg or Lvov. Something is not there! Moonshine stills for making the elixir of life…

Pharmacy interiors with shelves lined with jars of various potions

or more severe wooden boxes for pills and powders

The interior of a drugstore with a stuffed crocodile under arches and busts of prominent doctors and alchemists of the past: Paracelsus? Quiet Brahe?

Plague Elixir Maker's Laboratory

Medieval pharmacy signs “At the Golden Deer”

and "At the White Unicorn".

The museum even has a pharmacy dollhouse.

Having overflowed our impressions with a glass of good Heidelberg beer, we left the castle through the Gate Tower of the beginning of the 16th century. She withstood the soldiers of Louis XIV, and before the fire of 1764 and to this day rises above the castle and the city at all its 52 meters. There is an old clock on the tower. Once the entrance to the castle was protected by four gates and a lifting grate to boot.

If you turn to the right of the Gate Tower (by the way, it is called Torturm in German), then on the corner you will see the small Seltenleer tower blown up by the soldiers of the French king, and behind it the ruins of the English Palace and the Tolstaya Tower. The palace was built by the unfortunate Protestant leader Frederick V. On his orders, the mighty Tolstaya Tower of the castle was rebuilt into a court theater. In 1620, he lost the battle at the White Mountain under. Frederick V was an openly short-sighted politician. Going to Bohemia, he disbanded his army and dismissed the generals. After 2 years, the Kaiser General Tilly easily captured the Heidelberg Castle, which had previously been considered impregnable.

English Palace or Englisherbau in the center. Ruprechtsbau on the right. To the left, behind the trees in the woods, the Tolstaya Tower is barely visible.

The apotheosis of the former power of the castle and, at the same time, its complete destruction is Krautturm or, in Russian, “Blown Up Tower”. It was one of the most powerful in the fortress, because the thickness of its walls is 6.5 meters. By order of the "King of the Sun" the tower was blown up, but it was possible only on the second attempt. At the same time, part of the wall collapsed into a moat, and so it remained there.

The mode of operation of the castle is quite curious. From 8 to 17.30 admission is paid, and later - free. But in the evening, the Big Barrel and the Pharmacy Museum are closed. Whether it is worth spending 6 E from the nose to inspect them is up to you. We really enjoyed the exposition. With castle tickets, you can go down the funicular to the city. At first, we kind of decided to take a ride, but when we saw a line in front of the entrance, we went on foot. Moreover, going down is not at all tiring. On the way we came across Triumphal Arch in the castle garden...

a pretty red sandstone gazebo and original mansions.

We spent the night on the outskirts of the city in a chain B&B. It cost 66 E. Hotels in the center are much more expensive, and about paid parking should not be forgotten. From the window of our room overlooking the industrial zone and the Kia dealership.

Monday morning was overcast. It was our last day in Germany. For the evening we booked a boarding house in Czech Loket. Therefore, already at 8 o'clock we left the car in the same underground garage and went for a walk along the "longest pedestrian zone in Germany" - the main street of Heidelberg Hauptstrasse.

To begin with, we reached the eastern edge of the city and saw the triumphal Karlstor gate made of the already familiar red sandstone.

We unexpectedly stumbled upon the famous student pub Zum Roten Ochsen. At such an early hour, even the students do not drink yet, so the tavern was closed. I wonder how many generations of philosophers, theologians and physicists got drunk here to the pig squeal of a student punishment cell?

Surprisingly, these flower-filled houses are a three-minute walk from Markplatz on the main street of Heidelberg. By the way, almost all the houses in the city are about the same age and type. This is explained by the same war for the Palatinate Succession, which became a real tragedy for Heidelberg. The repeatedly mentioned Louis XIV ordered the systematic destruction of the city, burning houses one by one. The inhabitants of Heidelberg, returning to their native ashes, tried to rebuild on their former sites, while saving on exterior decoration. The city, rebuilt within 20 years (1700-1720), turned into a fairly homogeneous ensemble of the Baroque era.

Only in some places the post-fire baroque turned out to be slightly seasoned with bizarre Art Nouveau.

In addition to the castle, most of all we wanted to see the student punishment cell, located in the former house of the university watchman. But on Monday it was closed. It’s a pity, because there are still preserved drawings of students imprisoned there for drunkenness, singing in the wrong place, relationships with women and other outrages. The student could be released from the punishment cell for a short time good reasons, which included passing a test or exam.

Main building of Heidelberg University. Entrance to the punishment cell from the alley passing behind.

Elector Ruprecht I founded the university as early as 1386 on the model of the Paris Sorbonne. The current building was erected at the very beginning of the 18th century. Sofia Kovalevskaya and Sergei Solovyov studied here. N.M. Pirogov, D.I. Mendeleev, I.M. Sechenov worked at Heidelberg University, in a word, the flower of Russian science.
The university occupies many buildings scattered throughout the city. Especially good early XX century.

The library houses the unique Codex Maness, a handwritten collection of medieval German poetry, which includes songs by famous minnesingers. The manuscript is written on parchment and decorated with magnificent miniatures. It was written around 1300 in Zurich by order of the noble Manesse family.

The university also includes the Hexenturm (Witch's or Witch's Tower), the only one that has survived from the medieval city fortifications. It stands in the courtyard of the new building of the university, two hundred meters away from the library. In the Middle Ages, women accused of witchcraft were imprisoned in this tower.

The Jesuit gymnasium of 1715 is decorated with a wonderful baroque portal.

The Jesuit Church, built according to a typical project :), is built of red sandstone, traditional for Heidelberg. It began to be built in 1712, when most of the city was still in ruins.

From the Jesuit church it is not far to Steingasse (Stone Lane) leading to Alte brucke (Old Bridge). On Steingasse, it is worth visiting Vetter im Schoneck - an old brewery with excellent beer and delicious sausages.

However, first you need to reach the Old Bridge.

The gate with towers is much older than the current bridge. They have survived from the former, still wooden bridge, repeatedly swept away by floods and ice drifts. In 1689, the same Louis XIV ordered to blow it up. The current stone bridge was built in late XVIII century. The bridge is decorated with statues of Pallas Athena with allegories of Piety, Justice, Agriculture and Trade,

Elector Karl Theodor with allegories of the Rhine, Moselle and Danube.

and... monkeys. The bronze monkey appeared recently in memory of its predecessor, which was located until 1689 on the north tower of the bridge.

The caustic inscription, addressed to the guests of old Heidelberg, is quoted on many sites. I will only mention the traditional superstitions associated with such statues. If you rub the bronze mirror in which the monkey looks, then you will be happy well-being, and if you touch or just pass your hand over your fingers right hand monkeys, you will certainly return to Heidelberg.

I rubbed the mirror, but I did not guess to touch the monkey's hand. Will you ever visit Heidelberg again? 🙂

Today we will tell you about the beautiful German city of Heidelberg, which stands in the picturesque green massif of the Odenwald, on the banks of the Neckar River, and is an ideal holiday destination for fans of ecotourism. Heidelberg or if it is correct to read from German "Heidelberg" is located in the warmest region of Germany, there grows a lot of exotic, for this country, Mediterranean vegetation. And yet, the city of Heidelberg is famous for its interesting sights.

current city of Heidelberg, which eventually united several separate villages into a whole, was founded in the period from the sixth to the eighth centuries, but in the chronicles the first mention of it dates back to 1196.

Or Schloss Heidelberg. The story about the interesting historical places of Heidelberg should begin with the mention of the ancient fortress of the counts of the Palatinate, erected here in 1225. Heidelberg Castle is often referred to as "Germany's most famous romantic ruins" because three architectural styles: Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. This huge castle complex, which in fact includes several castles, stands on the mountain slope of Königstuhl, which means “Royal Throne” in translation. The buildings were built from local red sandstone. They were constantly expanded and rebuilt, but after the destruction in 1693 by the troops of King Louis the Fourteenth, the ruins were never restored. But the Friedrichsbau Palace, which was not so badly damaged, “Friedrichsbau”, was restored by 1900 and today it is one of the most frequently visited tourist attractions in the city of Heidelberg. They are especially surprised by the huge old wine barrel "Grosses Fass", with a volume of two hundred and twenty thousand liters - the largest in the world. Next to this barrel is a small statue of the court dwarf Perkeo, who used to guard the wine in it. His strange name comes from the Italian expression "Perke no?", which means: "Why not?" They say that this is how the dwarf guard answered anyone who offered him a drink in a glass in another way. Tourists combine the inspection of this barrel with a tasting of fine local wine: white or red. We recommend trying the famous German ice wine, the Eiswein variety. In general, the history of this German castle is so confusing that we recommend purchasing an audio guide at the entrance to the castle, also presented in Russian. Even better, it would be better to take a tour and walk with a guide through the interior of the castle, visiting them with a regular ticket is not provided. In July and August, the castle hosts a theater festival.

Or "Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg" - was founded in 1386, eventually becoming the most important scientific, cultural and educational center Germany. Despite the fact that the university departments are scattered throughout the city, but the most interesting buildings: the rector's office, the museum, the humanities and social faculties, the punishment cell, are located in the "Old University" - "Alte Universität", located in the very center of Heidelberg in the Altstadt district on University Square. The main university building was erected in the Baroque style and strikes with luxury and splendor. By the way, tourists are happy to visit the university punishment cell, where students used to be kept for participating in duels, drunkenness, night noise, and other misconduct. All the walls of the punishment cell are dotted with mysterious messages and strange drawings, which even historians have studied, but have not figured out their meaning so far. The university buildings, fortunately, were almost not damaged during the Second World War, only the library was damaged, but it was quickly restored.

Or "Alte Brücke" - real business card German city Heidelberg. The Karl-Theodor Bridge is thrown over the Neckar River, being a continuation of the Steingasse street and connecting it with another Landstraße street, which runs along the river bank and at the foot of the Holy Mountain. The bridge was built in 1788 by order of the German Elector Karl-Theodor. Today, the Old Bridge is one of the most visited attractions in Heidelberg, over the centuries of its existence, it has been sung by writers and poets, and since 2002 it has been included " World Fund cultural monuments” to the list of endangered objects. The bridge has a length of two hundred meters and a width of seven meters, it has nine arched spans in the Baroque style. The portal of the bridge is adorned with two imposing Spitzhelm towers, so named because of their resemblance to the steel helmets of medieval knights. Today, tourists can visit the three damp punishment cells of the western tower, where criminals were previously kept.

Or "Stift Neuburg" - this abbey is also known as the Benedictine monastery of St. Bartholomew. It stands on the banks of the Neckar River, just opposite the "Old Town", on the slope of Mount Köpfl. This monastery was built in 1130, and by the end of the twelfth century it was converted into a convent for the education and upbringing of girls from noble families there, unmarried ladies and widows also lived here. In 1562, the monastery was disbanded on suspicion of Lutheran heresy, and its richest book collection was included in the Palatine Library, but girls from noble families continued to study there. In the period from 1706 to 1773, the monastery belonged to the formidable order of the Jesuits, and in 1804 it was transferred to private ownership. In 1926, the monastery was given by its last owner, Alexander von Bern, to the Benedictine order. After the Second World War, the monastery complex was reconstructed, in 1962 by the master Johann Klais, a mechanical organ with thirty-four registers was installed here. In 2011, a reconstruction was carried out, the concept of its design was changed: in a rather ascetic interior, emphasis was placed on interesting color and optical solutions that received sacred meaning and symbolic meaning. Today, fifteen monks live in the monastery, who are engaged in the production of farm products, horticultural art. If you wish, you can stay at the monastery hotel, taking an active part in the life of this German monastery. If you want to learn more about the history of the monastery, you can buy a tour or take an audio guide.

Or "Kurpfälzisches Museum der Stadt Heidelberg" is a place where art and cultural-historical collections of the value of the city are kept. The beginning of the collection began with the acquisition by the museum of the "Gallery of Antiquities" by Charles Grambert. The museum is located in a house that once belonged to the rector of the University of Heidelberg, lawyer Johann Philipp Morass. The exposition is located in the building of the former university fencing hall, as well as in the new museum building. In this museum of Heidelberg you can get a lot of interesting information about the life and art of the city, about the archaeological finds made here, relating to the Celtic and Roman periods, about applied arts, including a rich collection of textiles: old costumes, household items, old dolls. An important place is given to collections of paintings, sculptures, graphics.

- located in the "Old Town", not far from the Market Square. This square is located on the site where the Franciscan monastery used to stand, which was abolished in 1803. The square is located at the foot of the mountain, so it offers breathtaking views of Heidelberg Castle. As for the architectural ensemble of this square, the buildings are mainly presented in the Baroque style. A remarkable example of this is the house formerly owned by Karl Mittermeier. Here are the old hotels "zum Seppl", built in 1634, and "zum roten Ochsel", built in 1703. In addition, the beautiful Palais Boisserée is located here, famous for its rich collection of old German paintings, previously owned by the collector brothers Sulpitz and Melchior Boisserée, and the Palace of the Grand Duke, which today houses the Academy of Sciences. In the very center of Karlsplatz there is an interesting fountain, the sculptural composition of which illustrates the "Cosmography" in a playful allegorical form. In winter, a Christmas market is held here and an outdoor skating rink is flooded.

Or "Marktplatz" is the historical core of the German city of Heidelberg. It still performs its original function. The square is bounded to the east by the beautiful building of the Town Hall, in the Baroque style, built in the early eighteenth century, from the west by the beautiful "Church of the Holy Spirit". Market Square - pedestrian zone, with large quantity cafes open during the summer. In the center of the square is a beautiful baroque fountain "Hercules" - "Herkulesbrunnen", built in the eighteenth century.

Or "Heiliggeistkirche" - located on the Market Square opposite the Town Hall building, is a Gothic basilica of the late fourteenth century, decorated with baroque roofs and domes. This is the largest temple of the old Heidelberg, built on the site of an even older temple in the late Romanesque style, 1229. By the way, archaeologists discovered the remains of its apse in 1936. The basilica was built as a front church and a tomb for the Electors of the Palatinate. Of course, over the years of its existence, it has been repeatedly rebuilt and restored. Between 1978 and 1985, the last restoration of the building took place here, during which the original colors of the basilica were restored. Here are the graves of King Ruprecht III with his wife Elisabeth of Hohenzollern. In 1936, this church was included in the Association of Communities of the Evangelical Church of Baden. Today, tourists attend wonderful organ music concerts that are often held here.

Or "Kurpfälzisches Museum" - the most popular museum in the city of Heidelberg, famous for its extensive local history and art collections. The museum is located in a beautiful baroque palace of the eighteenth century, standing on the street "Hauptstrasse".

- is located in the part of the Heidelberg Castle that survived the destruction. Here in ancient times there was a real pharmacy, and now visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with the history of the development of the pharmacy business from ancient times to the achievements of the twentieth century. Here you can see the reconstructed premises of an ancient pharmacy, with a production department, an alchemical laboratory, cabinets and shelves filled with old retorts and test tubes, vials with old handwritten labels, medieval recipes, dried herbs, sets of other medicinal components, apothecary scales, old tools , with the help of which medicines were prepared in past centuries.

Fairytale Park Heidelberg- A great place to take the kids. The park is located on the Königstuhl mountain and includes carousels, a children's railway, a mini-racing track, interesting children's attractions, and park pavilions your children will be able to meet their favorite heroes of world-famous fairy tales. Among the scenery, which is a mysterious forest, enchanted castles, poor people's huts, live their own fabulous life Dwarf Nose, Rumpelstiltskin, Baron Munchausen, Evil Queen, Snow White and many others. The park is open daily from ten in the morning to six in the evening, and in July and August - until seven in the evening.

If you want to save money when visiting the city of Heidelberg, we recommend purchasing a two-day HeidelbergCARD, the price of which is thirteen euros per person or twenty-eight euros for the whole family. With this card, you can visit many of Heidelberg's city sights for free or at a discount, use any public transport freely, including the Bergbahn funicular that takes visitors to Heidelberg Castle, get a discount on bus tours, as well as a free guide. You can buy such a card at the tourist information office located at the main city station of Heidelberg, in the Town Hall building, and some hotels in the city.