Castle
Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg, Germany
A red sandstone castle ruin high above the old town, with a giant wine barrel.
City · Germany · Baden-Württemberg
Heidelberg
A romantic university town on the Neckar, topped by a red sandstone castle ruin.
about 5 h
For storytellers
Why Heidelberg matters
Heidelberg is the Germany of old poems and paintings. A red sandstone castle ruin hangs over the Neckar river, a stone bridge leads into a tight old town, and one of the oldest universities in the country gives the streets a youthful buzz. Climb the slope of the Philosophers' Walk on the far bank and you look back at all of it at once. It is small enough for a day trip, but you may well want to stay longer.
Talking points
- The castle ruin is partly a result of wars and lightning
- The university is among the oldest in Germany
- Poets and painters were drawn to the view from the Philosophers' Walk
- The old town's main street is among the longest pedestrian streets in the country
Free to read aloud or adapt in your video. Check facts that matter to you against an official source before you publish.
What to see in Heidelberg
Bridge
Old Bridge Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Germany
The stone bridge over the Neckar with a gate tower and a castle view.
Viewpoint
Philosophers' Walk
Heidelberg, Germany
A hillside path on the north bank of the Neckar with the best view of the old town.
Shopping
Heidelberg Hauptstrasse
Heidelberg, Germany
A long pedestrian street lined with shops, cafes and historic buildings.
Historic site
Student Prison Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Germany
A former university jail whose walls are covered in student graffiti.
Also nearby
Within about 40 km, closest first.