Heidelberg
Mountain of Saints
General Information
Other Name: The City of Castles, , State: Baden Wurttemberg, Germany
Area: 108.83 km²
Languages Spoken: German and English
Long Distance Code: +49 6221
Importance: In 2004, 81.8% of all people worked for service industries, including tourism. As a relic of the period of Romanticism, Heidelberg has been labeled a romantic town. This is used to attract more than 3.5 million visitors every year.
Best Time to Visit: March to May and October
International Access: Connected to all major cities of Germany and world.
Description
Heidelberg is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. As of 2006, over 140,000 people live within the city's 109 square kilometres (42 sq mi) area. The town of Heidelberg is an administrative district of its own. Although not being part of it, the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, the rural district, which surrounds the town, has its seat in HeidelbergLocation
Heidelberg lies on the river Neckar at the point where it leaves its narrow, steep valley in the Odenwald to flow into the Rhine valley where, 20 kilometres (12 mi) Northwest of Heidelberg, it joins the river Rhine at Mannheim.Climate
Moderate Climate
Heidelberg's castle ruins have been famous for centuries as romantic ruins, so they've not been fully restored. Yet this is one of the most evocative castles you might visit in Europe. Inside is a wonderful Pharmacy museum, as well as the world's largest wine barrel (a vat having a capacity of 195,000 liters or approx. 51,514 gallons.) There is a wine bar inside the palace, and a small cafe outside where you can get a drink or eat a light meal (or what passes for one in Germany, anyway). Admission is 2.5 Euros at time of writing.
The cornerstone for Heidelberg's "Old University" was set on June 24th, 1712. The area around abounds in interesting cafes and shops. There is a university museum and very interesting Student's Prison, where students were imprisoned for minor and fashionable transgressions like drinking at night and disturbing the peace. There is a free Botanical Garden in the University of Heidelberg; entrance is free. Closed Saturdays.
Prince Elector Karl Theodor built Heidelberg's first stone bridge, erected between 1786 and 1788. The bridge has a well-preserved medieval gate on the town side.