Heidelberg is one of the lovely and romantic cities in Germany which sits on the river Neckar in the foothills of the Odenwald forest in the southwest part of Germany. It has a beautiful spot at the Riverside, captivating old bridges and the alluring castle ruins and various magnetic ancient sites and attractions. A city that abducts hearts is perennially favorite all over the world. The quality of life here is admirable, and the warm and welcoming atmosphere makes this University City an active and energetic place.
The perfect combination of the countryside with mountains, river, and warm climate along with city lifestyle makes the place attractive for many families, students, artists, nature lovers, researchers and international tourists. The beauty and immortality have inspired the German Romantic Movement and still inspires the people today. A person of every age enjoys the place which is a baroque style town with some modern touch and great University, which also is named as the City of Science.
The city has many places that shouldn’t be missed and one day apparently isn’t enough for grasping the beauty and everything the place offers. The artistic en masse of the castle, the baroque style town, the pristine gushing waters from river Neckar with the enclosing hills gave birth to romantic poems, soulful art, and beautiful melodies and still is an intriguing place for millions of people today.
Location:
The Heidelberg city has the picturesque setting on the arms of river Necker at the heart of the ‘Rhine-Neckar Triangle’ which is in the sharp valley in Odenwald. It casually is seated in the Rhine Rift Valley on the left of the Neckar bank. The place is bounded by the mountains Königssthul, which is 568 meters and the Gaisberg with the height of 375 meters. The pristine waters of Neckar flow from east to west. On the right side of the river, the mountain- Heiligenberg is of the height of 445 meters. The river is flowing into the Rhine plain nearly 22 kilometers in Mannheim, which is in the northwest region. The villages originated in the 20th-century range from the Neckar Valley to Bergstraße. Bergstraße is a road that runs through the Odenwald hills. The city is placed on the European walking route E1, which is from Sweden to Umbria.
Weather:
The city of Heidelberg falls in the oceanic climate region according to Köppen climate classification. The climate is stated by the shielded valley among the Prälzerwald and Odenwald. All the years, the mellow temperatures are staunched by maritime air masses which flow from the west. The city’s position in the valley directs a more constant easterly stream of air, which is more than average, contrary to the neighboring Upper Rhine Plain. The hilly regions of the Odenwaldare are in the approval of clouds and precipitation. The hottest month here is July while the coolest is January. The temperatures in summers are frequently raised beyond 30 degrees Celsius in the middle of the summer. In 2009, the German Meteorological Service stated that Heidelberg is the warmest place in the country. This makes it one of the most favored tourist attractions in the country, especially for people from the tropics.
History:
There is a scientific dating which states that the primitive evidence of human life in Europe dates back 200,000-600,000 years ago when the jaw bone of ‘Heidelberg Man’ was discovered nearby Mauer. The Celtic fortress of refuge and a worship place were built on the Heiligenberg, or also called as the Mountain of Saints which still can be traced today. During the Middle Ages, the modern Heidelberg gave a sign to the modern beginnings. The people here progressively converted to Christianity. The St. Michael monastery was established on the mountain inside the dual rampart of the Celtic fortress. Neuberg Monastery was set up in Neckar Valley. Many other significant Abbeys too were founded during the 12th century placing their name and connection back then with the history. The 13th century was the phase when heyday-the capital of Electoral Palatinate started with the foundation of the (now oldest) University in Germany.
The modern history which dates back to the 17th century, when the War of Palatinate Succession was at its best, the city and the castle faced destruction by the French. The city was rebuilt in baroque style, this time, retaining the ground plan. In 1803, the city became a significant university along with the famous tourist destination for various artists, poets and philosophers and this gained the city its name as the City of Romanticism. In the year 1945, the place was taken up by the American Forces which eventually became US Army headquarters in Europe and also of NATO. The university campus building at Neuenheimer Feld at last secured its claim for being the Science City. It followed the foundation of the technology park and research establishments which made itself world’s first biotechnology centers.
Surroundings:
There is a wide extent of appealing and unique tours in the city. One can find the ancient and recent stories and histories around various museums and walk around the beautiful architecture around the city. The walks around the old town present you the romantic side of the Heidelberg with its fantastic lanes and squares. The castle visits also give the romantic aura of the town leaving you mesmerized with its beauty and purity. There’s also a city Safari available to Segway if people are interested in two wheels for an extraordinary experience.
The surroundings are vibrant and energetic with the bustling university students, thousands of tourists and local people enjoying the beauty and urban lifestyle of the town. The jovial and lively attitude gives us high spirits, and you can hear the street musicians play their favorites. The horizon of Heidelberg and Neckar valley landscape are very impressive to view and especially when seen from the river on the ferry boats. You can visit this place with both your family and friends and enjoy the true beauty of nature. The serene environment with picturesque landscapes is definitely breathtaking and this is why thousands of tourists visit this place all round the year. From its amazing picturesque locations to the festive mood of the town, this place should definitely be a part of your travel itinerary if you’re visiting Germany.
Traveling the area:
Various transport facilities are available to enable us to visit and explore the gorgeous city of Heidelberg. The autobahn A5 is running through the western periphery of Heidelberg and connects the region to the Frankfurt am Main in the north part and the south part Karlsruhe. The A656 starts from the west of Heidelberg connecting the city with Manheim. Both of them meet at the Heidelberg autobahn junction in the city. The A656 gets connected to A6 at Manheim autobahn which then connects east towards Stuttgart. The B3 is from Frankfurt to Karlsruhe and runs from the north to south of the town.
There are various roads open for the tourists to explore namely- Bergstraße, Castle Road, Bertha Benz Memorial Route and Straße der Demokratie-Democracy Road.
Why visit?
The City of Romance is the most attractive and romantic place of Germany and people who don’t want to miss out the soulful beauty and deep philosophies of life; this place is inspiring for such a living. One of Germany’s greatest writers J.W. Goethe has stated that this place has “something ideal” about it. Millions of people around the world name this as their favorite tourist place in the world. The Heidelberg Castle, which is a ruin now seems to be taken out of a fairytale.
It is a fascinating place to ignite the sparks of romance with the beloved. The baroque style place with the contradictory standard of living and friendly attitude of the local people feels like we have come home. The beautiful city located in the arms of the river and at the foot of the mountain offers the best panorama and enchanting landscape. The inspiration place of many idealists, philosophers, artists, musicians, and poets teach you some great living of life and making its visit worth.
Major attractions:
The city’s ruins of the Renaissance castle is a romantic figure and is one of the most attractive and alluring place for visitors around the world. If you are in the city, the very first trip should be made to the castle, and then the exploration can begin. The figure across the Neckar River is illuminated when the day ends making a spectacular view. There are wine cask and fabulous views which can be reached through shape and cobbled trail or by taking cogwheel train (Bergbahn) from the station of Kornmarkt.
On the top, the views over the Neckar River will leave you awe-struck. The castle’s central courtyard- Schlosshof was reconstructed Gothic as well as Renaissance buildings with exaggerated facades. The most fascinating feature you’ll see is the Friedrichsbau, which is decorated with huge sculptures of various kings and emperors. There’s also Grosses Fass, which is the world’s largest wine cask having which can hold about 228,000 liters. And the great Apotheken-Museum could not be missed while you are in the city.
What else around?
It is an enchanting town in itself and a day is not enough to explore this beautiful town. If you are done with the wonderful experience and exploration around, there are still dozens of options available.
- Bertha Benz Memorial Route
- Heilbronn Karlsruhe
- Weinheim- a small city between Darmstadt and Heidelberg
- Darmstadt
- Dillsburg/Neckarsteininach- which has four castles in a row
- Mannheim
- Frankfurt