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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Photos of Heidelberg, Germany

Part of my 2011 European travel adventures


Heidelberg is one of Germany's most famous small towns. It's known for a beautiful old town and a famous university. I had a weekend to spend in the region and chose to pay this beautiful medieval gem a visit. This is definitely one of the must-see places for every Germany enthusiast out there.

1. My impression of Heidelberg

Heidelberg is very cozy, it truly has a small town feel to it - I like it a lot. But it's very very long, very stretched along the Neckar river. When you arrive to the main railway station, it takes some time to reach the old town, but their tram system is very convenient and affordable, which makes taking overpriced taxis unnecessary. What is a little disappointing is the fact, that only one long street in the old center is where everything is going on. The side streets are a little neglected, not in the sense of being dirty, to the contrary, but there is not much to see or do. The castle above the medieval core is one of the highlights, same as the river Neckar with a beautiful stone bridge. All in all, Heidelberg is definitely worth a visit, it's very touristy, partly kitchy, but it has a rich history and many treasures to discover.

2. My photos of Heidelberg

Heidelberg main railway station upon my arrival.

Inside the Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof building.

I went to the Ibis hotel near the railway station - great price and awesome hotel!

After taking a brief rest, I decided to explore the city.

The main station and tourist information center.

An S-Bahn train.

This sculpture is called S-Printing Horse.

I decided to walk instead of taking tram, because I had time. This is a suburb of Heidelberg, which I decided to explore first.

Walking around that area, I spotted this beautiful church.

And another one right nearby.

A popular bubble tea shop, it was full of people. Taiwan's soft power on display?

Close to the center and the never-ending Hauptstrasse.

The Hauptstrasse or Main Street is the most crowded part of Heidelberg.

It's 1.6km long street reserved only for pedestrians, one of the longest in Europe.

It's full of domestic and foreign tourists.

This singer garnered a lot of attention.

An empty side street.

Hauptstrasse again.

Korean American youngsters were singing pop songs.

Marktplatz with street performers and the Holy Ghost Church.

Holy Ghost Church or Heiliggeistkirche, located in the heart of the old center.

The beautiful House of the Knight or Haus zum Ritter, today a hotel.

Another part of the Marktplatz.

Lots of Asian tourists on the Marktplatz, it's very vibrant here.

A statue of Mary called Kornmarktmadonna, behind is the majestic castle.

Kronmarktmadonna.

Karlsplatz, a famous old square, where the Heidelberg castle is seen very clearly.

The zoomed in castle. I was too lazy to go up there.

The promenade along the Neckar river is called Am Hackteufel.

The river Neckar.

The old town from the river banks.

The Old bridge or Alte Brücke.

The Gate of the Old bridge or Tor der Alten Brücke, Heidelberg's famous landmark.

3. Heidelberg in conclusion

Heidelberg is unique and has a very special ambiance. It truly feels like you're thrown a few centuries back in history, when you walk around the old town. Compared to some other small towns in Germany, Heidelberg is very touristy and might be a turn off for those of you, who prefer a more peaceful stroll along the historic center. For someone like me, who's living in Taipei, seeing a lot of people was no shocker - I truly enjoyed my exploration of this gorgeous town and recommend visiting it to everyone.

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