Personal Memories and Impressions, Heidelberg

Favorite thing:
Always leave something for the next visit! These are the things I didn't do in Heidelberg so far and that I want to do when going back:


Go INSIDE the castle - to see the interior rooms and the German Pharmacy Museum. I also want to see the castle gardens and the area above the castle

Philosophenweg - the famous way with wonderful views on the town and the castle

Friedrich Ebert-Gedenkstätte - the birthplace of German politician Friedrich Ebert

Akademie der Wissenschaften - a baroque palace

Museum of Ethnology - located in another palace

university - I'd like to see more of the old university, especially the witch tower

kurpfälzisches Museum - a museum on the local history, arts and customs of the region

Favorite thing: From the top of Heidelberg Castle you have these wonderful views of the Neckar River, Old Bridge, Old Town and Philosophenweg.

I loved just looking out to the Neckar River and the bridge and just imagining how it must have looked in the 1800's. The Philosophenweg looked wonderful with all the trees in vibrant color. The rows of homes nestled nicely in the landscape make for wonderful picture apportunites.

Views of Old Town and the church below where quite breathtaking as well.

Favorite thing: Heidelberg is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Germany. Especially Japanese and American tourists as well as members of the US Army living close to here seem to love this rather small city in the German federal state of Baden Württemberg. There even is a Hard Rock Cafe here - a chain you don't find in many places in Germany. Even though there are many tourists here the place isn't destroyed by tourism. It kept its old time charm pretty well actually.

Fondest memory: When buying a postcard the guy in the shop talked to me in English. They don't seem to get many German in these shops in Heidelberg... Which surprises me because I have met quite many German tourists here as well. After all it's a perfect day trip destination if you don't live too far away!

Favorite thing: Have you ever seen a postcard of a place and thought "Nah, it cannot possible look like that?" Well, Heidelburg is NOT that type of place. If you were to receive a postcard, it looks EXACTLY like that! The streets are narrow and clean, the buildings colorful, and the architecture superb! Heidelburg is a wonderful town to see a postcard in person!

Fondest memory: Taking the 315 stair hike up to the castle with my wife Audrey, and Christine (tini5de) We made it, slowly but surely. It was an awesome spectical from the top!

Favorite thing: The Weisser Boch Hotel. I stayed at this hotel in the Alt Stadt. Nice hotel with a first class restaurant and an interesting bar. I had a good two hour conversation with three men working for the Merck Company who were also in Heidelberg on business. One was from London, one from Wales and the other from Berlin.

I had to apologize to our friend from Berlin as there we were, in his country speaking English. He and I did speak a little in German, but my German is completely horrible and I slaughter the grammar. He was very good natured about our inability to speak German though, and we had a very nice few hours together. This was my best night in Germany.

Favorite thing: Check out the Heidelberg Castle. It sits on top of this hill, over looking the town. It is quite a hike going up the 1000 steps (or however many there are) but the view is well worth it.

Fondest memory: Well, our group of about 8 or 9 stayed in a school dorm that wasn't in use. It was probalby holiday time for the school. It was super busy, travelling schools and tourists from all different places. Sometimes it got so loud we couldn't even think. But all in all...it was fun.

Favorite thing: Check out the church of the Holy Ghost and climb up all 200 plus steps to the steeple balcony. It offers a great view of old town and the Neckar river.

Fondest memory: The cobble streets and old architecture are very appealing to the eye...as well as the German girls who were all very friendly and helpful. Another thing that I truly miss is the great German food and excellent beer!

Favorite thing: The first thing people notice about Heidelberg is the Castle. Yes it is big and yes it is beautiful, but there is quite a bit to see and do besides the castle. If you were to do one other thing, wander down the Hauptstrasse. This is the main street leading up to castle, it is a pedestrian only cobble-stone street lined with all sorts of shops, bars, restaurants and galleries. This main street can be somewhat commercial and has become more so in the past years, but it is still a great way to spend an afternoon of just window shopping.

Favorite thing: Feel like an intelectual and take a stroll along the Philosophers' path. Maybe the beautiful views of the castle and the city will awake your romanticism and inspire a couple of beautiful words for your travel companion.

Fondest memory: The ruins of the castle are the most attractive sight in the city. Even in the cold of the winter you can have some sunny spells that make the ruins even more attractive.

The Schloß has a mixture of styles, from Middle Age to Renaissance and Barroque. It was the residence of the Kurfürsten but was destroyed by the French Louis XIV's army in the end of the XVII century. Ever since, the ruins have had an enormous influence in the German Romantics.

Favorite thing: See the castle! Especially in October. The walk there is full of beautiful falling leaves, awash with color. The mornings are cool and misty and the castle looks like it has stepped out of another time just for you.

Fondest memory: The youth hostel was a blast. A group of young women were there on some sort of school field trip and I was one of only a few eligible men hanging out there.