Visit Heidelberg Germany

Sightseeing

Heidelberg Castle

 

 

 

        Guided Tours Offered by the Convention and Visitors Bureau

Walking Tour of the Old Town

See, touch and hear Heidelberg‘s fabled past and lively present as narrated by expert tour guides on this educational walking tour.

Duration: 2 hours

Meeting Point: Universitiy Square (at the "Löwenbrunnen")

Time: April – October: Daily 10.30 a.m. (German)
Thursday - Sunday 10.30 a.m. (English)
November – March: Saturday 10.30 a.m. (German)

Language: April - October: German and English
November - March: German

Price: Adults € 6,00; With discount € 4,00; Children 6 and under free

Advance ticket sales and reservations:
Tourist Information in front of the Main Railway Station
Tel. +49(0)6221-19433, Fax: 1388111 e-mail: info@cvb-heidelberg.de

 


Evening Tours "Evening walk through Heidelberg's Alleys"

Are you visiting this lovely city and have no time to join a tour during the day and still want to know something about Heidelberg? Join us in an evening walking tour and discover Heidelberg in the evening light. Official guides will take you around the present and past of this lovely and unique university city.

Duration: 1,5 hours

Meeting Point: University Square (at the "Löwenbrunnen")
Recommended parking lot: P 12 (Kornmarkt)

Time: Tuesday and Thursday: 8.30 p.m. (German)
Other dates, times and languages on request

Language: German
Other languages on request

Price: Adults € 6,00

More Information: +49 - 06221- 781725    Email:  IRG2834538@aol.com

 


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City Sightseeing Tours

Approved guides show you Heidelberg's highlights with explanations in German and English in comfortable buses. Route: Bismarck Square, Main Railway Station, New University institutions in Neuenheimer Feld, past Old Bridge along the Neckar Valley back to Heidelberg, University Square up to Heidelberg Castle. Reserve your seat by booking in advance at the Tourist Information Office.

Duration: 2 hours

Meeting Points: University Square

Time: April – October: Thursday and Friday 2.00 p.m.
Saturday 10.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.
If a holiday falls on a Thursday or Friday, the tour begins at 10.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.
Thursday - Sunday 10.30 a.m. (English)
November – March: Saturday 2.30 p.m.

Language: German/English

Price: Adults € 12,00; With discount € 9,00; Children 6 and under free

For detailed information and bus ticket reservations go to the Tourist Information Office Main Station, Willy Brandt-Platz,

Advance ticket sales and reservations:
Tourist Information in front of the Main Railway Station
Tel. +49(0)6221-19433, Fax: 1388111 e-mail: info@cvb-heidelberg.de

 

 

Boat Trips

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Season opens Easter to October with limited timetable during off season.  All trips are with explanations in German, English and French. 

Heidelberg - Neckarsteinach - Heidelberg 

Duration: 3 hours   Price: Adults €9.50  Children  €5.50

Heidelberg Round Trip

Duration: 40 minutes   Price: Adults €3.50   Children €2.50

Information from Rhein-Neckar-Fahrgast-Schiffahrt
phone:  0 6221-20 181
fax:  0 6221-20 211

 
Palatinate Museum

Hauptstrasse 97   Phone: 0 6221 583402    Fax: 0 6221 583490

Price: Adults DM 5.00  Free admission on Sunday and for children

Opening Hours:  Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm ( to 9:00 pm on Wednesday)  Closed on Monday

 
Heidelberger Kunstverein 

Hauptstrasse 97     Phone: 0 6221 184086   Fax: 0 6221 164162

Price: Adults DM 5.00  (on Sunday DM 3.00)

Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wed 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Rotating exhibits of international contemporary art
 
University Library

Plöck 107-109   Phone: 0 6221 542380    Fax: 0 6221 542623

Price: Admission free

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

The large building complex of the University Library was erected from 1901 to 1905. Previously, a monastery had been located here.  The main sights, the facades pointing to the east and to the south, are abundantly decorated by sculptures, structuring architectural details and plant ornaments extending all the way up to the roof. The two sculptures flanking the main entrance at the "Plöck" were created by Prof. Hermann Volz. They both symbolize the intentions of the University Library: Prometheus (left) gave mankind fire and knowledge. The woman and the child (right) stand for the passing on of wisdom from one generation to the next. The two masks, one laughing and one crying, symbolize comedy and tragedy. An inscription refers to Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden who, being sovereign, also was the university's chancellor and thus sponsor and promoter of the new building. Baden's coat of arms therefore had to be included in the building's architecture. Portraits of the Prince Electors are to be found above the windows.

 
University Museum

Old University, Grabengasse 1   Phone: 0 6221 542152

Price: Adults DM 3.00

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

 

Students' Prison

Old University, Augustinergasse 2  Phone: 0 6221 543534

Price: Adults €2.50   Children €2

Opening Hours: April 1 to October 31 - Monday to Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm     

November 1 to March 31 - Tuesday to Friday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm 

Closed Sunday, Monday and public holidays.

The Students' Prison is located in the back of the Old University in the "Augustinergasse". From 1778 until 1914, students were imprisoned here for minor transgressions which were kind of fashionable among otherwise honorable gentlemen inscribed at the Heidelberg University, most of them being members of student fraternities. Common offenses were disturbance of peace, especially after excessive drinking at night, insulting official authorities or playing jokes at them as well as participating in dwelling. During these years, the University administration was embodied with an autonomous jurisdiction and had the legal right to detain students. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, imprisonment would last from three days to four weeks. One was allowed, however, to attend lectures. After classes, the juvenile delinquents had to return to jail. Biding their time, many of the young prisoners "decorated" the walls with graffiti and paintings. Their "artwork" is still preserved and to be seen at the Students' Prison.

 
Bonzai Museum

Mannheimer Strasse 401 Phone: 0 6221 849110  Fax: 0 6221 849130

Price: Adults DM 5.00 Students DM 3.00

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm  Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Approx. 80 to 100 exhibits are on display, including conifers, deciduous trees as well as outdoor and indoor plants from all parts of the world. The museum, a collector of woods, trees and single plants from Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, U.S.A. and most parts of Europe, is the only one of its kind in Europe. 

 
University Botanical Garden

Im Neuenheimer Feld 340  Phone: 0 6221 545783    Fax: 0 6221 546178

Price: Admission Free

Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday, Sunday and public holidays 9:00 am to 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Closed Friday and Saturday

 
German Packaging Museum

Hauptstrasse 22  Phone: 0 6221 21361 Fax: 0 6221 658414

Price: Adults DM 5.00   reduced rate DM 3.00

Opening Hours: Wednesday to Friday 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm  Saturday and Sunday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm  Closed on Monday and Tuesday

Many packages were designed by prominent artists of their time, they are real "works of art" and meanwhile accepted part of the history of arts and design. 

In this premises the museum is presenting packages as reflections of the cultural progress of our society. The manifold functions of packaging are shown as well as its historic development: packaging as the result of a creative and artistic performance. Different sectors of the exhibition are showing packaging to be affected by permanent change: artistically and technical innovations have always had an influence on the design of a package.

Complementary changing exhibitions and special shows are illustrating different aspects of packaging in our century. Promising competitive works of young designers are represented here as well as typical packaging design of foreign cultures.

 

Television Tower

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Königstuhl   Phone: 0 6221 25041    Fax: 0 6221 164492

Price: Adults DM 2.00  Students and senior citizens DM 1.50  Children DM 1.00

Opening Hours: March to October 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, June to August to 7:00 pm

 
Zoo

Tiergartenstrasse 3   Phone: 0 6221 645510  Fax: 0 6221 645588

Price: Adults DM 7.00   Children DM 3.00  Family card DM 18.00

Opening Hours: April to September daily 9:00 am to 7:00 pm     October to March 9:00 am to 5:00 pm   Free parking area, bus no. 33

 

Old Bridge

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The four preceding bridges were constructed of wood. They were destroyed by floods, fire and ice. Prince Elector Karl Theodor was the first ruler to construct a stone bridge which was erected from 1786 to 1788. The medieval bridge gate on the town side was originally part of the town wall. Baroque tower helmets were added during the erection of the stone bridge in 1788. There is a plaque referring to the defense of Heidelberg against French troops. On October 16, 1798, a brave Austrian regiment commanded by Prince Schwarzenberg succeeded in repulsing the advancing French Army. 

The West Tower contains dungeons, whereas the East Tower holds a spiral staircase. A few steps east of it visitors will find the "Tränktor" (Drinking Gate). During the Middle Ages, cattle were driven through this gate to their drinking places. 

The two bays of the bridge carry monuments created by Franz Konrad Linck (1730 - 1793) who, since 1763, was the Prince Elector's official court sculpture.

 

The "Philosophenweg"

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The "Philosophenweg" gets its name from the fact that Heidelberg's philosophers and university teachers are said to have once walked and talked here. Even today, this world-famous path offers new sights and insights. 

Many sub-tropical plants flourish in the "Philosophengärtchen". The temperate climate is perfect for Japanese cherries, cypresses, lemons, bamboos, rhododendrons, gingko and yucca trees, and several other plants from the Mediterranean, North Africa and Asia.
Joseph Freeherr von Eichendorff (1788-1857) is one of the German poets who fell in love with Heidelberg and dedicated poems to the old town. A commemorative stone refers to the German Romantic who studied here 1807-08.

 

Holy Ghost Church

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A late Roman basilica was first mentioned in 1239. In 1398, it was replaced by a large church building which nave was constructed in the typical style of the late Gothic period. The chancel was completed by 1410, the building of the nave took until 1441. There was also a delay in the construction of the church tower which was started again in 1508.

The chancel contained the tombs of the Prince Electors of the Palatinate. Of the originally 54 epitaphs, the only one to remain was the one of Prince Elector Ruprecht II (1352 - 1410).

During the 30 Year's War, however, the complete collection became the booty of Heidelberg's conqueror, commander Tilly. Following orders of the Catholic Prince Elector Maximilian of Bavaria, the library was given to the Pope of Rome. Of the collection which once included more than 5000 books and 3524 manuscripts, only 885 manuscripts were returned to Heidelberg in 1816.

During the following centuries, the church frequently changed its religious denomination and was used at different times by Catholics as well as Protestants. Even a partition barrier was erected in 1706 because both denominations wanted to hold service here. For 230 years, the barrier stayed in its place until it was removed in 1936. Today, the Church of the Holy Spirit is a Protestant Church.

 

The Madonna at the Kornmarkt

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The Madonna was erected by a Catholic fraternity. When the sovereign officially declared Mary the patron saint of the Catholic belief in the Kurpfalz, the statue became a focal point of religious worship in Heidelberg. The Madonna of the Kornmarkt demonstrates three typical characteristics of this period: Mary is shown as the Queen of Heaven, as a virgin and as a victor.

The Prince Elector, in spite of his intentions to convert his "heathen" subjects, failed in changing their religious convictions. Many of the Protestants preferred to emigrate from Heidelberg. When, during the first half of the 19th century, citizens rebelled against aristocracy and clergy, the "Madonna of the Kornmarkt" lost much of her religious symbolic significance. At the same time, the statue was discovered and appreciated as real art work. 

 

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