Heidelberg & Weinheim, Germany
Upper Baden-Württemberg was an area I knew well after living in Mannheim. I hadn’t been back to Heidelberg in years so I chose to make it my base for the last few days of this trip to Germany.
Heidelberg University, founded in 1386, is Germany’s oldest and one of Europe’s most reputable universities. The large student population and steady influx of tourists keeps the town hopping all year.
Heidelberg’s architecture is unusually consistent for two reasons. First, the town and castle were almost completely destroyed by the French in 1693 and re-built in the Baroque style. Second, unlike most German cities, Heidelberg escaped Allied bombing during World War II.
Heidelberg’s main street, Hauptstraße, stretched the length of the Altstadt and was busy with tourists. But I walked just one street over and was surrounded by locals and students.
In the morning I hiked up Philosophenweg (Philosopher’s Walk) which wound through the tree-covered hills across the river from the old town. There were plenty of benches to sit and take in the views.
Not far from Heidelberg, I visited Ladenburg and Dr. Carl Benz’s workshop. You might recognize the small automotive concern that today bears his name. Unglücklicherweise, the museum was not handing out samples.
Ladenburg was hosting its market day as I walked through the core of town. People were biking in with their shopping bags and buying fresh vegetables, cheese and meat from the stalls. Refrigerators are small here so people buy small quantities. I’m pretty sure Sam’s or Costco wouldn’t work in Europe.
I traveled a bit further on the rail line from Heidelberg and landed in the small town of Weinheim. It immediately made an impression with castle ruins visible on a nearby hill. Cafes and outdoor seating crowded its central square.
One of the joys of Europe, and Germany in particular, is lounging at a small outdoor table with a tall beer and just people watching. I have yet to figure out why they don’t seem to have any insects annoying you like back home.
Another joy here is just wandering the narrow streets and absorbing all the small, interesting details that surround you. Most people might not give them a second look but heighten your observational senses a bit and you can find beauty all around you.
It was an enjoyable way to wrap up my latest visit to Germany. I never tire of exploring this land full of contrasting history, architecture, culture and people.
I slow my pace in Deutschland because I don’t have to see everything on this visit. It’s a given that I’ll be back. As they say so appropriately here, it really isn’t goodbye, it’s auf Wiedersehen. On seeing you again…
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