Heidelberg was the center of the epoch of Romanticism in Germany. There was a famous circle of poets, such as Joseph von Eichendorff, Johann Joseph von Görres, Ludwig Achim von Arnim, and Clemens Brentano.
Heidelberg is a city in south-west Germany. The fifth-largest city in the State of Baden-Württemberg Heidelberg is part of the densely populated Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region. Heidelberg is a popular tourist destination due to its romantic and picturesque cityscape.
Old Heidelberg
Heidelberg was the center of the epoch of Romanticism in Germany. There was a famous circle of poets, such as Joseph von Eichendorff, Johann Joseph von Görres, Ludwig Achim von Arnim, and Clemens Brentano. The Romantik epoch of German philosophy and literature, was described as a movement against classical and realistic theories of literature, a contrast to the rationality of the Age of Enlightenment.
Heidelberg Cuisine
Heidelberg has a great variety of places to eat. You can get German, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indian. The cuisine within Heidelberg tends to be dominated by dairy produce, when compared to the somewhat meatier dishes within northern Germany, although grilled bratwurst sausages and snail soup are still fairly commonplace here. When dining out at Heidelberg’s German-style restaurants, look out for the following dishes: Bibbeleskäs – locally produced cottage cheese, Brägele – fried slices of potato, Flädlesuppe – tasty broth with ribbons of pancake, Knöpfle – thick noodles, Schupfnudeln – potato-based pasta, Sauerkraut – sour, fermented shredded cabbage.
Heidelberg has plenty of dining options available and good food can be found within a variety of eateries, ranging from brewpubs and central pavement cafes, to historic taverns and gourmet restaurants. Freshwater fish also makes up much of the local menus, while those with a more international palate will find Italian, Chinese, Thai, and Mexican restaurants in good supply, amongst others.
A trip to Heidelberg wouldn’t be complete without tasting the renowned German beers. To steep yourself in German beer and tradition, spend an evening in one of Heidelberg’s historic student pubs, most of which are adorned with old photographs and memorabilia.
As refreshing as the beer is, locals know that as great as beer may be, it can’t beat the wines that the Heidelberg region is known for. The city is located in the Baden wine-growing region, which produces many dry wines of high quality and is the origin of many of Germanys best Spätburgunders. Whatever is in the glass, if it originated in the region surrounding Heidelberg, you can be sure it is a quality wine.
The historic old city part of Heidelberg also contains plenty of fine dining and traditional Germany fare, including some of the city’s best restaurants and brewhouses. Particularly notable in Heidelberg are those eateries located along both the Steingasse and the Untere Neckarstrasse, a number of which are housed in historic buildings dating back to the beginning of the 18th century. For cafes and lunchtime snacks, many of the public squares around this area Heidelberg are lined with cheap eats and outside tables, such as the Uniplatz and also the Marktplatz, off the Auf der Hauptstrasse.
Accomodation in Heidelberg
You can find accommodation in this wonderful city for every taste, no matter if you are looking for cheap accommodation in Heidelberg or if you want to stay in a luxury hotel.
You can find luxury accommodation in Heidelberg at Crowne Plaza Luxury Hotel Heidelberg, situated in the center of the historic university city. You can reach all of the city’s sights, the Old Town and the congress centre Kongresshaus-Stadthalle Heidelberg within a few walking minutes.
You can stay at Hotel Europa Heidelberg , overlooking the city gardens, that is situated in the heart of the romantic university town of Heidelberg within walking distance of the Old Town, the University, the world-famous Castle and the conference centre.
You can also find accommodation at Vacation apartment Heidelberg – Winery Heidelberg, where you can find three new, modern holiday apartments for two to five people are available. All of them have a spacious, comfortably furnished living-room with Sat-TV, telephone and kitchen equipment, two separate bedrooms.
Entertainment in Heidelberg
Heidelberg-2Museums. The most prominent museums of Heidelberg are for instance the Carl Bosch Museum which shows life and work of chemist and Nobel Prize-winner Carl Bosch. Then there is the Documentation and Culture Centre of German Sinti and Roma describing the Nazi genocide of the Sinti and Roma peoples. The Kurpfälzisches Museum (Palatinate Museum) offers a great art collection and some Roman archeological artifacts from the region. The museums of Heidelberg are mostly located along or close to the Hauptstrae so that they are within walking distance. Germanys oldest university has some small museums like the collection of antique exhibits the Antikenmuseum, the University-Museum, the Studentenkarzer (a historic prison especially for
Theaters. In Heidelberg they have a surprising amount of theatres, given the size of the city. This is certainly due to the university and the students. The Theater der Stadt Heidelberg, the municipal theater, offers the standard programme like dramas, operas, and dance-theatres. Beside the municipal theatre Heidelberg has a lot of private ones, a dance-theatre, a theatre in the university and cultural theatres. For more than 10 years, an amateur-theatre in an old factory, the Taeter-Theater produces modern and unconventional dramas. In the Old town is another theatre located, the Volksbühne. The faculty for languages at the University has its own “basement” theatre, the Romanischer Keller that performs for an audience of students and other interested people.
Nightlife. Heidelberg is vivacious and full of life. Nighttime revelers have an endless array of ways and places to congregate, from rustic student pubs to nightclubs, jazz clubs, and music clubs. Pub Mile “Untere Strasse” is reminiscent of a Mediterranean old-town alleyway. Unusual boutiques are side by side with novel student pubs, and night life pulsates here throughout the week. On Market Square in Heidelberg, “Max Bar” introduces an atmosphere of authentic Parisian charm. Artists, students, workmen and academicians come to Max Bar not only for coffee and the daily papers but also in the evening, when the pace picks up.
What about Shopping?
What’s the fun in traveling if you can’t bring home some local delights to show off? The Hauptstraße in Heidelberg is known for its shopping. The Altstadt is home to a third of all the shops in Heidelberg. So while you are enjoying the Altstadt, you will also be supporting local merchants.
Home to some of the most attractive shopping precincts in Germany, many of the shops in the city stand alongside pavements cafes, bars, restaurants and bistros, providing you with plenty of opportunity to take a break, sit at an outside table and watch the other shoppers passing by.
Further shopping can be found along the winding side streets of Heidelberg’s Old Quarter, with shops being particularly plentiful along the Untere Strasse and also around the Heiliggeistkirche church. Ranging from antiques stores and art galleries, to jewellery and clothing outlets, many affordable and quirky souvenirs are on offer in this part of the city.
Sightseeing in Heidelberg
- There are a lot of interesting places to visit during your stay in Heidelberg.
- The marketplace, with Town Hall on the left, Heidelberg’s old city centre from the castle above.
- Heidelberg Castle with the Old Bridge
- The “old town” on the south bank of the Neckar, dominated by the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, 80 metres above the Neckar on the steep wooded slopes of the Königstuhl.
- The Main Street , a mile-long pedestrian street, running the length of the old town.
- The Church of the Holy Spirit, a late Gothic church in the marketplace of the old town.
- The Karls’ gate is a triumphal arch in honor of the Prince Elector Karl Theodor, located at Heidelberg’s east side.
- The house Zum Ritter Sankt Georg is one of the few buildings to survive the War of Succession. Standing across from the Church of the Holy Spirit, it was built in the style of the late Renaissance.
- Heidelberg Castle is a mix of styles from Gothic to Renaissance. Although the interior is in Gothic style, the King’s Hall was not built until 1934. Today, the hall is used for festivities, dinner banquets, balls and theatre performances. During the Heidelberg Castle Festival in the summer, the courtyard is the site of open air musicals, operas, theatre performances, and classical concerts performed by the Heidelberg Philharmonics. The castle is surrounded by a park, where the famous poet Johann von Goethe once walked. The Heidelberger Bergbahn funicular railway runs from Kornmakt to the summit of the Königstuhl via the castle.
- Philosophers’ Walk. On the northern side of the Neckar is located the Heiligenberg (Saints’ Mountain), along the side of which runs the Philosophers’ Walk (German:Philosophenweg), with scenic views of the old town and castle. Traditionally, Heidelberg’s philosophers and university professors would walk and talk along the pathway.
- Heidelberg churches. There are many historical churches in Heidelberg and its environs. The Church of the Holy Spirit has been shared over the centuries since the Protestant Reformation by both Catholics and Protestants. It is one of the few buildings to survive the many wars during the past centuries. There is the Catholic Church of the Jesuits. Its construction began in 1712. It was completed with the addition of a bell tower from 1866–1872. The church is also home to the Museum für sakrale Kunst und Liturgie (Museum of Ecclesiastical Arts). The oldest church in Heidelberg is the St. Peter’s Church (now Lutheran), built by early Christians sometime during the 12th century.
- Located at the top of the Königstuhl hill and connected by a funicular railway, the family orientated Fairy Tale Park is suitable for children of all ages. Highlights include many themed areas and characters, an impressive playground and even some fun hobby horses.
- The Heidelberg Bonsai Museum is home to around 100 specimen bonsai trees, with popular species including Japanese maples, zelkovas, beech, a ginkgo and several junipers. A number of the exhibits are planted as miniature forests, recreating nature in perfection.
- The University Botanic Gardens are one of the true gems for plant lovers visiting Heidelberg and contain a rather diverse array of plant collections. Established at the end of the 16th century, the Botanic Gardens are amongst the oldest in Europe and therefore contain many impressive and mature specimens.