If you ever plan to visit Germany, put Heidelberg on your itinerary as one of your must-see places. Situated ideally by the Neckar river, it is one of my favorite cities in Germany, and also one of the most beautiful.
Probably one of its most famous landmark is the Heidelberg Castle (Heidelberger Schloss). Situated atop a picturesque hill adorned with lush greenery and overlooking the serene Neckar river, the castle undoubtedly adds a touch of romanticism to this quaint, little city, that is always bustling with life. Heidelberg is also home to one of Europe’s oldest university, which is renowned for its medical courses. The castle can be best viewed from the Bridge of Theodor-Heuss, an old bridge located at the far end of the old town. It is especially romantic strolling along the old bridge with the castle at the backdrop. The scenery is even more breathtaking at night when the castle is illuminated by soft orange glow. Accompanied by the sound of water lapping gently against the river bank below, I bet the statues above of the Theodor-Heuss-Brücke witnessed or overheard countless couples seizing the romantic setting to confess their love for each other .
As we strolled further down the old town towards the town square, the castle can also be seen at the backdrop. We decided to ascend the flights of stairs (altogether ca. 370 steps) leading up to the castle. The climb took about 10minutes, which is worth every minute of it once you reach the top. The view from the castle towards the old town is breathtaking. While on one side of the river bank lays a sloping hill crowned with trees and clumps of houses, the opposite side of the river lies the old town of Heidelberg. How can you not fall in love with this town with a view like this?
The entrance to the courtyard of the castle is free of charge. A visit to the inside of the ruins of the castle is recommendable and there are tour guides organized for visitors.
The courtyard is filled with benches for those who just wanna sit down and enjoy the peacefulness of the area. While some prefer to lie on the grass to enjoy the beautiful autumn day as the afternoon sunshine fall full upon the leafy trees all around the park, bringing out the glorious color of autumn.Ah…a visit to the castle won’t be complete without a self portrait with the gorgeous view of the Neckar.
For more pictures of the Heidelberg Castle please click here. Have a nice week ahead!