Travel to the Black Forest

Day 4 Heidelberg

(in 61 Km.) Heidelberg: Heidelberg is a city located in the valley of the river Neckar, in northwest Baden-Wurtemberg. It is famous for its historic center, with the Heidelberg castle and the oldest university of the country, so it is a major tourist destination. Heidelberg has 140 000 inhabitants. To avoid traffic and problems with parking we left the car on the opposite bank of the historic center, just a few meters from the Alte-brücke.

The real name of this bridge is Carl-Theodor-Brücke ("Bridge Carl Theodor"), named in honor of the Prince Elector Carl Theodor, who built it before 1786 in the same place where there were other bridges since 1248, so is known as "Heidelberg Old Bridge". We crossed it to enter the old town ( Altstadt ). At the end of the bridge stand two white towers at the foot of which we found a modernist sculpture of a monkey.

We walked down the street Steingasse and reached the market square (Marktplatz), where we can see on one side the city hall (Rathaus) famous for its carillon, in the center the fountain of Hercules (erected between 1706 and 1709) and on the other side the church of the Holy Spirit (Heiliggeistkirche). In 1398, the foundations of the current late Gothic church were laid. The construction lasted for some one hundred and fifty years. The Choir was consecrated in 1411 and the nave was finished in 1441. The works was interrupted until 1508 and the tower was finished in 1544. In 1709, after the church had been set on fire, it was rebuilt and received a baroque spire.

At the begining of the commercial and busy street Hauptstraße, we find the house Zum Ritter Sankt Georg (Knight St. George), one of the few renaissance buildings to survive the War of Succession. It was built in the late Renaissance style in 1592 and completely restored in 1705. It is named after the sculpture located at the top. We passed the Jesuitenkirche (Jesuit Church) with three naves if baroque style which highlights its facade, reaching the Universitätsplatz (University Square).

In this square we find the buildings of the old and the new University of Heidelberg, which was created in 1386. Highlight the Alte aula (assembly hall) at the Alte Universität and the Studentenkarzer (prison students), famous for the graffiti on the wall of students arrested, representing themselves with costumes Studentenverbindung of 1901. In the courtyard of the new university we find "Der Hexenturm" (Witches Tower), which belonged in 1392 to the western wall of the Old City. The name indicates that the tower served as a prison for witches, but this can not be proven. Sometimes the tower was used as a prison, probably for women.

Near Kornmarkt (Grain Market) we can take the Bergbahn (funicular) that takes us to Heidelberg Castle. We do not do this visit because a big storm. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps. The castle has only been partially rebuilt since its demolition in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is located 80 metres (260 ft) up the northern part of the Königstuhl hillside, and thereby dominates the view of the old downtown. The earliest castle structure was built before 1214 and later expanded into two castles circa 1294; however, in 1537, a lightning-bolt destroyed the upper castle. The present structures had been expanded by 1650, before damage by later wars and fires. In 1764, another lightning-bolt caused a fire which destroyed some rebuilt sections.

(in 92 Km.) Loffenau: We come back to Loffenau.