Have you heard of Heidelberg? Germany has a plethora of picturesque
towns and also a wide array of great castles. Well, Heidelberg is a place that has both.
Let us take you on a quick tour of Heidelberg and inspire you
to add Heidelberg to your JayWay itinerary!
Let’s start with location - Heidelberg is located on the banks of the Neckar River,
in the very North of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. A conveniently short
drive from the international travel hub that is Frankfurt and close to
other popular JayWay destinations like Baden-Baden or Strasbourg.
Officially crowned as one of UNESCO’s “Cities of Literature”, Heidelberg also
houses Germany’s oldest university. So come along and enjoy the streets
immortalized by some of literature’s greatest - whether that’s Hugo, Twain, or Goethe.
So what makes Heidelberg a popular destination among travelers?
For that we look at the triptych of unique attractions that are the Heidelberg Castle,
the baroque Old Town, and the oasis of calmness that is the Philosopher’s Walk…let’s
see what they have to offer.
The Heidelberg Castle is unmissable, towering above the city in all its historical glory.
Despite being partially destroyed by wars and weather,
it is a popular tourist destination today.
Among other things, the Heidelberg Tun or Grosses Fass is a popular attraction.
Described by Mark Twain as “a wine cask as big as a cottage”, it has, to the author’s
disappointment, rarely been used as an actual wine barrel. There’s no need to worry though,
you can sample delicious local wines with a view of the cask in the adjacent restaurant.
Other attractions worth a mention include the reconstructed Friedrichsbau or the German Pharmacy
Museum and, of course, the castle gardens, offering a world-famous sunset view of Heidelberg.
Access to the castle is made easier thanks to the railway funicular that can take you up and
save you some steps, or bring you down to the baroque Altstadt, the Old Town of Heidelberg.
Once there, you can wander around and explore the charming and photogenic buildings of the
marketplace, visit the Church of the Holy Spirit, stroll along the main street,
or just relax and soak up the atmosphere. Visit one of the many quaint cafés for an
afternoon break or reward yourself after a day of exploration with some German beer and food.
A stand-out structure in the center is the reconstructed Old Bridge and
its original medieval gate, connecting the Old Town to the other side of the river.
This is also the way to go if you decide to discover the third most important attraction in
Heidelberg - the Philosophenweg, or Philosopher’s Walk. This walking trail runs along the opposite
hill from Heidelberg and it is a perfect place to get some fresh air, enjoy stunning views,
and admire the atypical flora seen along the way, grown here due to Heidelberg’s warm climate.
We hope you enjoyed this brief look at Heidelberg - a city worth visiting and adding to your JayWay
itinerary. Talk to our travel experts about combining your visit to Heidelberg with nearby
Frankfurt, which we’ve already made an informative video about, or visiting on your way to the
adorable towns of the Black Forest…in any case, we hope Heidelberg is on your bucket list now.
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