Sightseeing in Heidelberg

Added: 06/14/2006

Located about 75 miles northwest of Stuttgart, 55 miles south of Frankfurt and 12 miles southeast of Manheim, Heidelberg is one of the most beautiful and best preserved cities in Germany. It was one of the few cities which wasn't leveled in the World War II, and consequently has original buildings from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The modern city centers on Bismarckplatz - you'll find a number of luxury hotels and restaurants here in Heidelberg.

A fascinating mixture of tradition and modernity, Heidelberg has been for years a center for the arts and sciences. Today the tradition is carried on in many educational establishments and research centers that can be found in and around the city. Heidelberg is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, the Ruprecht Karls University known also as the University of Heidelberg. Over the centuries a number of prominent thinkers have been associated with this institution, notably Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Rudi Schneidewind and Karl-Otto Apel. Today students make up a significant percentage of the population in Heidelberg. The vibrant atmosphere imparted by the university life to the city is felt in the old student quarter with its lively inns and narrow streets.

Summertime in Heidelberg is a time for romance and music, with a great number of visitors coming to enjoy the city's rich historic and cultural heritage. The liveliest part of the city is Bismarkplatz, at the foot of Theodore-Heuss-Brucke, where many renowned hotels and restaurants are located. Tall buildings and shopping centers differ greatly from the Altstadt nearby.

Art lovers will be delighted to find a variety of attractions in Heidelberg, the most popular of these being the Studentenkarzer and Kurpfilzisches Museum. The latter is housed in a baroque palace and is composed of a large collection of sculpture and paintings from six centuries, including the Riemenschneider Altar with Christ and 12 Apostles. The museum is also home to an archaeological collection with a section on the history of the Palatinate. The ceilings and walls of the Studentenkanzler are covered with drawings and graffiti, including silhouettes and portraits. The last prisoners were held in this jail in 1914.

Nightlife is exciting in Heidelberg, due to the youthful enthusiasm of the city's students. Evenings and nights are usually spent in bars and pubs along Hauptstrasse and around Marktplatz. The most popular and revered student tavern in Heidelberg, Zum Roten Ochsen has been in the Spengel family for six generations welcoming such renowned guests as Otto von Bismarck and Mark Twain among many others. The second most famous nightspot in Heidelberg, Zum Sepp'l is located next door. It features carved initials and photographs of former students, as well as memorabilia ranging from Alabama license plates to old Berlin street signs. Among other widely reputed bars and cafes are Max Bar, Sonder Bar, Cafe Journal, Hard Rock Cafe, Havana Cocktailbar-Restaurant, Print Media Lounge and the Schwimmbad Music Club. One of the oldest jazz clubs in the country, Cave 54 plays jazz every Sunday, while other nights are dedicated to reggae, funk and soul.

For shopping enthusiasts, Heidelberg is a great destination, with a wide selection of stores to choose from. The main shopping area is the Hauptstrasse filled with stores offering handicrafts, crystal, glass and other items. The city is also known for its large markets, like those held at Marktplatz, Friedrich-Ebert-Platz or Messeplatz. For car hire Heidelberg visitors may consider the following car rental companies: Alamo, Hertz, Europcar and Thrifty.

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