The university town of Heidelberg is one of Germany’s most important scientific centres. Offering a mixture of cutting edge research facilities and medieval castles, visitors flock to the city for a taste of its intellectual history and traditional Rhineland spirit.
Located in the Rhine Rift Valley, Heidelberg dates back to the fifth century, while remnants of ancient civilisations have been found in the city dating back over 200,000 years. The city’s skyline is dominated by the medieval Heidelberg Palace, while its 14th century university played an important role in the growth of Calvanist thought during the Reformation. Following the exodus of the Nazi Party after World War ll, Heildelburg has became one of Germany’s main destinations for historical sightseeing.
Climb Königstuhl Hill for the best views of Heidelberg’s Old Town or explore on foot to see the beauty of Hotel Zum Ritter and the Elizabeth Gate up close. Elsewhere, the Thingstätte amphitheatre was once the venue of denazification events held by US Generals, as well as the occasional witch’s séance. Cross the Altuck Bridge to the Heidelberg Palace to see the world’s largest wine barrel or head to the Pharmacy Museum and Studentenkarzer to learn about the city’s unusual past. After a day of sightseeing, Neckarwiese Park delivers relaxing green spaces with traditional street food sold nearby.
Heidelberg is accessible via Frankfurt airport with many airlines offering direct flights from major European cities. Public transport links are also available from nearby Mannheim, Kaiserslautern, Landau and Speyer.