Letzte Halt: Heidelberg

After a few quiet days in Alsace, we left France this morning and headed north in Germany.  We took mainly the #3 highway that runs parallel to the #5 autobahn because that road passes through towns and villages and is a much prettier drive.  We started in Lahr and continued on it until we reached Baden Baden where we joined the autobahn.  On our right side (east) was the Black Forest covered in verdant green

Our destination, at the last stop on this trip, is Heidelberg.  Our hotel, the Hollaender Hof is located in the Aldstadt (old town) with views of the old bridge and the Neckar River.  It is lovely and I hope to return here one day and have more time to explore this area.  

Heidelberg is located on the Neckar River.  It is best known for Heidelberg University, founded in 1386.  It is Germany's oldest and one of Europe's most reputable universities.  The Gothic Heiliggeistkirche church towers over the cafe-lined Marktplatz, a town square in the Altstadt (Old Town). 

The red-sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a noted example of Renaissance architecture, stand on Königstuhl hill.  We contemplated walking up to the castle but the warm temperature (around 28') deterred us.  Instead, we walked out onto the Alte Brucke (old bridge) and took picture of it from there plus some of the old city entrance.

Located about 78 km (48 mi) south of Frankfurt, Heidelberg is the 5th largest city in Baden-Württemberg.  Heidelberg is also a scientific hub in Germany and home to several internationally renowned research facilities adjacent to its university, including the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and four ax Planck Institutes. The city has also been a hub for the arts, especially literature, throughout the centuries, and it was designated a "City of Literature" by the UNSECO Creative Cities Network.  The population is just under 160,000.

We spent the afternoon and early evening wandering around the Aldstadt, stopping for a beer (for my sister) and a Radler (for me) at the Vetter Brewery before having dinner at the restaurant next to our hotel called Wirthaus zum Spreisel.  We had to have Wiener Schnitzel as it is our last evening in Germany.  I had a couple of glasses of Muller Thurgau wine while sis had a Radler.  It was an early night for us as we have to head home tomorrow.

With that, tomorrow we head to Frankfurt airport, about a 1 hour drive from here, for our flight home.  Unless I do a summary blog when we are back, the is likely my last post this time.  It has been a great trip although there have been some glitches - which I may blog about because there were some challenges that I should share so others don't have the same experiences.  Thanks for following along!