Heidelberg

Together with its famed Bridge Gate, which was once a part of the city wall, the Old Bridge has always been a symbol of Heidelberg. The statues of Karl-Theodor (who built and gave his name to the current stone bridge) and of Pallas Athena, the goddess of wisdom and culture, stand enthroned here above the Neckar. The Bridge Monkey, re-erected in the 1970s on the Old Town side of the bridge, is one of the most popular photo motives. On the closest bridge column, below the statue of Karl-Theodor, are chiseled the impressive flood markings of recent centuries.

One of the city’s oldest squares, Market Square is framed on the east by the town hall and on the west by the Church of the Holy Spirit. In the center of the square stands the majestic Hercules Fountain, erected between 1706 and 1709 as a reminder of the immense efforts required to rebuild the city after its almost destruction in the War of Palatinate Succession, 1689-1693. The Church of the Holy Spirit was constructed from 1400 by Ruprecht I as both a collegiate church and a final resting place. The distinctive feature of the church is its loft galleries, where originally the famed Bibliotheca Palatina was housed as a safely enchained library, until its abduction and transport to the Vatican during the Thirty Years’ War. Today the Church of the Holy Spirit is the city’s main Protestant church and attracts visitors in large numbers to its concerts and church services.

Those who are looking for a place to relax in the fresh air in between will find a nice place in one of the public parks. Here is a selection of "green oases": Castle Garden www.schloss-heidelberg.de The geometrically structured terraces of the Heidelberg Castle Garden "Hortus Palatinus" were once considered the "eighth wonder of the world". The large grotto contained elaborate water features, its walls were decorated with stones, shells and coral. The large terrace offers an impressive view of the eastern front of the castle and the Rhine plain. Neckar meadow The 5 hectare Neckar Meadow extends along the Neckar River in the centrally located district of Neuenheim. Picturesquely situated on the banks of the river, you have a wonderful view of the old town and the castle from some places. The Neckarwiese offers an ideal space for recreation, games, sports and fun. Philosophers' Walk / Philosophers' Garden The Philosophers' Walk winds its way up the southern slope to Heiligenberg. You can start the ascent from the Theodor-Heuss-Bridge. The Philosophers' Garden, located above Albert-Überle-Straße, is a sun-drenched natural balcony with a wealth of exotic plants. On the natural balcony of the Philosophers' Walk you can enjoy nature and the view of the city at the same time. Unprotected, the exotic plants thrive on this climatic island, which is one of the warmest places in Germany, and everything blooms weeks earlier than in the valley. Swan pond / park in front of the public library The swan pond complex is located near the old town between Poststraße and Kurfürstenanlage in the Bergheim district. Walking paths and benches, fitness equipment and a playground invite you to linger in the greenery. Botanical garden Founded in 1593, the Botanical Garden of the University of Heidelberg is one of the oldest botanical gardens: important scientific work by Heidelberg botanists is inseparably linked to it and its research and protective collections are of great importance. There is also a herbarium with unique specimens. The Botanical Garden is a place of teaching, research and protection of plants threatened with extinction, but also a place of contemplation and recreation. www.botgart.hip.uni-heidelberg.de The Heidelberg City Forest The Heidelberg city forest has a size of 3,300 hectares. Directly from the city, hikers and those seeking recreation can experience the forest: Many signposted hiking trails lead to attractive vantage points. www.natuerlich.heidelberg.de; www.heidelberg.de Heidelberg mountain cemetery A network of paths of over 20 km runs through the largest Heidelberg cemetery, the Bergfriedhof. Four signposted circular routes invite you to discover this place of important cultural and historical treasures. Numerous information boards and signposts lead to the graves of important personalities, such as Friedrich Ebert, Robert Wilhelm Bunsen or Carl Bosch. www.heidelberg.de/friedhof

HIKING TRAILS Quality hiking trail Neckarsteig The Neckarsteig is a hiking trail certified by the German Hiking Association. It is around 127 km long and 3127 metres high and leads from Heidelberg to Bad Wimpfen, combining nature with the cultural and historical attractions of the region. The hiking trail offers very good continuous marking and is equipped with rest areas, hiking furniture and parking spaces for hikers. The individual sections of the trail can also be easily reached by S-Bahn or passenger boats. This makes the Neckarsteig ideal for multi-day hikes, individual day tours or walks. www.neckarsteig.de Wine and Culture Experience Trail Heidelberg-Rohrbach In the Heidelberg district of Rohrbach, interesting facts about wine, grape varieties, geology, climate, history and life culture as well as flora and fauna of the region are presented in the vineyards. The core of the Wine and Culture Experience Trail is a circular trail of about 20 km, which can be walked on from different directions. All entry points have good connections to the local public transport system. www.weinwanderweg-rohrbach.de Heiligenberg circular hiking Trail From the parking lot for hikers on the Heiligenberg, numerous hiking and circular trails invite you to take a walk through the city forest. The remains from Celtic, Roman and medieval times are partly preserved, restored and made accessible by a varied and comfortable circular hiking trail, the Celtic Trail. www.outdooractive.com https://www.komoot.de/guide/357/wandern-rund-um-heidelberg Via naturae and forest adventure trail on the Königstuhl The Königstuhl is a 567.8 meter high mountain and only a stone's throw away from Heidelberg's old town (7 km). Here you will find an oasis of peace and relaxation and have a fantastic view of Heidelberg and the Neckar valley. With the Via naturae and the forest adventure trail, you will find two special forest paths, for learning for young and old. www.outdooractive.com www.heidelberg.de The Burgensteig Along the mountain road ("Bergstraße") the Burgensteig and the somewhat shorter and easier blossom path ("Blütenweg") from Darmstadt to Heidelberg lead over 120 km. On narrow and unspoilt paths, it leads past streams, meadows and vineyards and over 30 castles, palaces and places of worship can be discovered. www.diebergstrasse.de www.outdooractive.com CYCLE PATHS Numerous cycle paths lead through Heidelberg. The city is therefore an ideal starting point for exploring by bike or to make a stop on a trip. The Heidelberg bicycle city map shows the best bicycle connections and provides a lot of useful information about cycling in Heidelberg. Neckartal-Radweg, www.neckartalradweg-bw.de Radweg Bergstraße (klassisch oder naturnah), www.diebergstrasse.de Burgenstraßen-Radweg, www.burgenstrasse.de Kurpfalzroute, www.outdooractive.com Odenwald-Madonnen-Weg, www.tourismus-bw.de Heidelberg-Schwarzwald-Bodensee-Radweg, www.tourismus-bw.de Kurpfalzachse, www.outdooractive.com Badischer Weinradweg, www.badische-weinstrasse.de The mountains in and around Heidelberg are ideal for mountain bike tours. The mountain bike route network covers around 300 km in the Odenwald, 90 km of which are in the Heidelberg area. www.natuerlich.heidelberg.de