The most striking Baroque...
by Venturingnow
The most striking Baroque building in Heidelberg is the Alte Brücke, reached from the Marktplatz down Steingasse; dating from the 1780s, it was blown up in the last war, but has been painstakingly rebuilt. My fondest memory from my visit to Heidelberg had to have been my decision to walk to the youth hostel from the station. Now, it was 11:00AM, and I set off with my pack and bag, thinking it couldn't be more than a 10 minute walk. Well, I was wrong! After getting lost a few times, I realized that it was alread 12:00 by the time I found the place, and when I did, it was closed, so I had to walk all the way back to the city! Aghh!!! But when I came back, the sun had come out and was lighting up the bridge and castle perfectly, so I walked down to the river's edge and took in the panorama. How nice.
Visit the castle!!! The main...
by tessy
Visit the castle!!!
The main street of Heidelberg is really called main street, but I like the upper street, too. The main street leads you to the Kornmarkt (nice view to the castle!!) Now you have to decide, wether to take the little train (Bergbahn), climb up the stairs or walk the steep pave stoned way up to the castle.
At the castle, have a look at the 'grosse Fass'! Do you know the story about the Fass? Well, in former times, the farmer had to pay taxes to their masters. And the taxes were paid in wine. In autumn time the farmers came up to the castle with their wine and they filled all the wine into the big 'Fass'. Imagine, how it tasted!! The quantity was much more important than the quality at this time.
Make also a guided visit in the castle!
The pharmacie museum is very nice, too!
And take great pictures from the terrasse of the castle!!! If you have enough time,begin your visit with a walk on the philosoph's path (Philosophenweg), which is just on the other site of the castle. Begin your walk near the Theodor Heuss Bruecke (bridge). Follow the path, look at the nice flowers, at the Neckar Valley and the beautiful castle! Follow the path until you arrive at the stairs leading to the Old Bridge. You enter the Old Town through the Brueckentor (citygate). Have a look on the famous monkey on the right site of the bridge! If you follow the Steingasse, you arrive just in the centre of Heidelberg, on the market with the Heilig Geist Church.
Old Bridge
by Gypsystravels
The Old Bridge is a beautiful stone bridge built between 1786-1788. It spans the Neckar River and at its base is the whimsical, cheeky monkey with its mirror. To the east of the bridge is the Tower and at the west are some dungeons.
I didn’t get a chance to actually cross the bridge, but I did get a nice bird’s eye view from a top of Heidelberg Castle.
"Why and What is everyone chewing?" PART 1 of 2
by JessH
I took my Scottish fiance to Germany for the first time. His first question was "are all you Germans blond?" followed by "why is everyone chewing"?
You'll notice that in Heidelberg people are on the move, and it's normal to see everyone "snacking" constantly. There are so many yummy things... I don't blame them!
Here are some "typical" German foods. Note that Southern German cuisine differs greatly from Northern German cuisine. Many dishes in Heidelberg will also be served in Cologne & Munich, but probably not in Hamburg or Berlin.
> Bakeries - they are the German's "backbone". We love our fresh breads & pastries, and many bakeries have added a few tall tables in a corner so you can stand, have a snack & a cup of coffee ("Stehcafe" = standing cafe) Try: Mohnstrudel / Schneckennudel (poppyseed cake), Zopf (yeast dough cake), Berliner (jam filled donut), Bienenstich (cream-filled cake "bee sting"), etc.
> On that note, let's mention the "Brezel" - I don't mean those tiny, salty crispy things that Americans eat whilst watching TV. The original Brezel is big, chewy with a buttery taste and has been dipped into a special brine before baking.
> The Almighty Sausage: Germans love their MEATS. Even though I no longer eat meat, I have to admit: you haven't eaten a sausage until you've tried a German sausage! Look for "Bratwurst" or "Knackwurst" and enjoy! Most sausages are pork, but beef or turkey are widely available. The most famous is the "Nuernberger". The sausage is best eaten with some mustard, wedged between a crispy white bun or with a Brezel.
> "A grumpy German is a Sauer Kraut"... this sour cabbage dish is famous. You either love it or hate it. Truth is: it's incredibly healthy & high in vitamin C.
> The best Ham & Cake in the world: The Black Forest isn't far from Heidelberg, so in the city itself you'll find the world famous Ham and also the Cake (or Gateau). Look for "Schwarzwaelder" and enjoy!
(click on the photos!)
Packing List
by Krystynn
I shall spend some time now to describe what I would pack along with me on a typical trip to Germany in SPRING time:- 3 pairs of black legstockings (woolen), 1 woolen cardigan/ sweater, 2 long-sleeved pull-over sweater (to combine with the cardigan) to give that preppy look, 1 pair of denim jeans (in black or navy blue), 1 pair of leather boots OR a sturdy pair of Doc Marten's shoes (I love Doc Martens!), 1 pair of dressy high heel shoes (for those special evenings), 3 wool-knit/ jersey dresses (for BOTH day and evenings), 3 or 4 cotton-knit tees (to wear inside your cardigan), 1 pair of heavy warm flannel pajamas/nightdress, 1 trenchcoat (which you can carry on your arm) OR a warm coat - make sure it's rain-proofed and preferably with detachable lining ... as it ALWAYS rains/ drizzles in Germany in Spring time.
This list is by no means comprehensive. It's just a rough guide. Feel free to add on more or shorten it. It all depends really on how long you'd be staying in Germany. DON'T forget to transfer all your toner, cleanser, night cream et al into small plastic containers - to save luggage space. O.K., don't go laughing at me now when I admit that I bring along THREE types of camera with me these days and load them with different types of films i.e. ASA200 film (for day) and the high speed Kodak 800 film for museums or places that do not allow flash photography. DON'T forget to bring along your much-treasured ATM card to withdraw cash. Yes, no need to rush to the money-changers to change all your currencies into Deutsche Marks before your trip.
Just ensure that you adhere to the following steps and you should be safe:
(a) Flip to the back of your local ATM card now, do you see the logos 'Cirrus', 'Plus', 'The Exchange', 'Maestro' etc on it?
(b) If the answer is 'yes', then you have absolutely nothing to worry about!
(c) Why? Because you can withdraw cash from any ATM machines in Germany, no matter how obscure the town or village you're at is.
(d) If you use this method, you'd also save alot on the interbank exchange rates. Trust me. Would this sweet face (me!) lie to you?? Money changers will charge you much, much more compared to a bank.
(e) Also, DO NOT use your Visa/ Mastercard to withdraw cash. It is considered as a CASH ADVANCE and you'd be slapped with a very hefty fee for this. Not worth it!
I've used this method many, many times before and so far, no ATM machines in this world have failed me.... Yes, even at the remotest village in Africa and China! :-))
'You can always tell a true friend: When you make a fool of yourself, he doesn't think you've done a permanent job!' - Lawrence J. Peter
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2. Sterilize your jam jars by boiling them
Heidelberg Castle - general view
Giant nutcracker
Entrance to Alte Brueke
