Travel times from Wiesbaden:
Train – 1 hour, 30 mins.
Car – 1 hour
Heidelberg is renowned for its romantic ambiance. Joseph von Eichendorff, the German Romantic poet who studied in Heidelberg in 1807, could be speaking today: “Heidelberg itself is a magnificent romantic city; there the spring entwines the houses and courtyards and everything ordinary with vines and flowers, and castles and forests tell a wonderful fairytale of times past.”
Take in the magic of the Castle, the Old Bridge and the Old Town panorama; wander through the picturesque side streets full of enticing opportunities to look, poke around and shop; enjoy the varied year-round program of cultural activities and the flair of historic student pubs.
Heidelberg is an endlessly walkable little city. Stroll the Old Town for traditional markets on the squares and cosmopolitan shopping on the bustling Hauptstrasse. The restaurant selection is plentiful, and some of the best people-watching is to be done from outdoor dining on this main pedestrian way.
The ruins of the Heidelberg Castle are a steep but short hike, or one stop up on the funicular rail, from the Old Town. Majestically perched high above the narrow lanes and picturesque roofs of town, the magnificent red sandstone structure crowns the city. For five centuries it was the glamorous residence of the Electors Palatine.
No city was as beloved by the Romantic poets as Heidelberg, due in great part to her enchanting location on the Neckar River amidst mountains, woods and sloping vineyards. The city has drawn and inspired great writers and thinkers for many centuries, leading its popular walking path to become known as the Philosopher’s Walk. Recognized as one of Europe’s most beautiful trails, it offers a leisurely ramble to see the panorama of the city and river below that moved the likes of Goethe, Mark Twain, Carl Maria von Weber, Alan Ginsburg and many more.
As Germany’s oldest university town, Heidelberg flaunts her distinguished history while retaining a youthful atmosphere. One in five residents is a student, and the many bistros, bars, boutiques, music and dance clubs, coffeehouses and theaters catering to this group are to be enjoyed by the visitor as well. And be sure to treat yourself to a “Student’s Kiss,” Heidelberg’s mouth-wateringly sweet specialty.
Go upstream along the Neckar to explore how life was influenced by the river in days gone by. The four significantly intact medieval towns of Neckargemünd, Neckarsteinach, Eberbach and Hirschhorn—dubbed “The Romantic Four”—are well worth at least a day’s exploration. In Neckargemünd, a stroll around town reveals excellent examples of half-timber homes and the remnants of the 14th-century town wall. Part of Neckargemünd, the former fortress town of Dilsberg perches on a nearby hilltop. Much of the castle dates from the 12th century, and it’s a step back in time to walk the narrow streets. The castle tower yields a commanding view across the Neckar to the four castles of Neckarsteinach. Two of them are ruins and open for exploration.
Eberbach still has its original form with four corner towers and an extensive medieval center. Thanks to its long history as a spa town, it also has an excellent variety of fine shops, hotels and restaurants. In Hirschhorn, half-timber homes stand flush against and over the medieval town walls. Walk along the Hauptstrasse, and wander down tiny alleys straying toward the Neckar. There’s never a lack of charm and romantic allure in these four picturesque neighbors of Heidelberg on the river.
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