Visiting Heidelberg

Over the weekend I had the chance to spend the day in Heidelberg, Germany.  I'd heard such good things about this city.  Heidelberg has a very German feel to the city and there is a lot to see.  Heidelberg University is there which is the oldest univeristy in Germany founded in 1386!  Wow!  But on to what we got to see that day.  We saw Heidelberg Castle, the Christmas Market, and rode on the funicular railway to the top of the mountain and had an impromptu walk through the woods of the Konigstuhl (hill top).  Sounds random, I know, but there is so much to do in Heidelberg.  This was a good break from the usual.


First we visited the castle.  This one is impressive.  It is red and massive.  It is in tact for the most part but is considered castle ruins.  The older parts of the castle were built around 1214 AD and renovations followed throughout the centuries including damages.  Inside the castle, there is a small Alchemy museam, guided tours, and even a cafe where you can take your picture with huge, and I'm talking huge beer barrels.  We got some views of downtown and the Carl Theodor Bridge.  We were all set to see the Christmas market surrounding the castle, but were informed that it didn't start for another 4 days.  No problem.  We could take a cable car from the castle area downtown to Kornmarkt for their Christmas market.



So after riding the cable cars we made it to the market which was only a block over.  The Christmas markets in Heidelberg are spread around the city so there is more than one.  We could hear the sounds of German christmas music and smell the scents of the Christmas foods.  We began by sharing a glass of gluhwein.  We also shared a kartofelpuffer mit apfelmus (potato pancakes with applesauce).  I love the contrast of the fried potatoes with the sweetness of the applesauce.  All served on a waffle plate!  This market was mostly food.  We walked over to another area to get a good picture of the castle from below.  You can see how the castle has parts built at different times in different styles.


B insisited that there was something at the top of the mountain and that we had to ride the cable cars to the top, so we went to check that out.  You can ride back up to the castle and then to another station that has a funicular railway.  We had no idea what was at the top.  The railway was kind of scary.  It looked like we were about to go up a 90 degree angle.  But the signs assured us it was only a 40% incline.  Still... We arrived at the top and found out that there was basically a restaurant there and a lot of nature paths for people to explore.  We walked a short path, about a mile through the woods just taking in the beauty.  There were fresh cut trees so it smelled like wood and pine.  It was glorious.  Plus the sun was about to go down, so we were getting peeks of light through the trees.  I told B I wanted to have an impromtu fashion shoot.  But he quickly shot me down ;)


After riding the railway down to the castle and then walking to our car, we headed home, getting to see some great stuff in Heidelberg.  I'd definitely recommend seeing Heidelberg, especially during the Christmas season!



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23 comments :

  1. loved it and pinned it :D come and see the Krakow Christmas Market one day ;)
    https://twistedredladybug.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Anda. The Krakow Christmas market sounds pretty cool!

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  2. Brittany, I have always wanted to visit Heidelberg but I'll just have to live vicariously through you for a little bit :) Gorgeous photos!

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  3. Really pretty pictures! Getting a cable car ride down a mountain to go to a Christmas market in Germany is just too idyllic!

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  4. I couldn't think of anything more perfect than being in Germany for Christmas. These images are really beautiful. Thanks for sharing some of the history of the great city of Heidelberg.

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  5. The houses look like toy or model houses from above. I would love the forest walk and the markets. Those potato cakes look tasty. :)

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    1. My first potato pancake of the season and the applesauce makes it!

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  6. Gorgeous photos. Thanks for the tour!

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  7. I lived in Heidelberg for three years in the 70s (Army Brat). Thank you for the trip down memory lane ... I know all of the places you visited and love them. Glad you had such a good time in what I still consider to be my adopted home town.

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  8. Oh I love this because I lived in Germany for five years and I cherish every moment I was there. The people were lovely, the city was beautiful and the food delicious. You really took me back with your photos. I lived downtown Heidelberg and I could see the castle from my window.

    maria Angelique
    P.S. So glad I found your blog. It is super cute!

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  9. Beautiful photos! I love to travel and looking at these photos makes me wish I could visit this castle! Thanks for sharing at TTF!

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  10. I was born in Germany and I love that you took so many lovely photos of Heidelberg. I hope to go back there myself someday!

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  11. Thanks for the memories - I visited Heidelberg two years ago and loved it!. Sally

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  12. I really like the first few photos of the castle ruins where only part of the tower is up. And the serving food on a waffle plate is positively genius.

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    1. Thank you Michele, I thought it was pretty cool to to see how the side of the wall just slid off.

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  13. It sounds like a wonderful day. Your post makes me want to be there!

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  14. It looks Gorgeous! Wow!

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  15. Loved the tour, thanks so much for sharing. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Mart

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  16. Thanks so much for sharing this at Olde party, my husband has been saying he wants to visit Germany some day. After seeing this, I'm conviced. I think the photos of the ruins was my fave:) - Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com

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  17. I lived here as a student years ago and it has a special place in my heart - so great to revisit via your blog!

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I love to hear from readers! Questions and comments welcome. I try to respond to everyone (I respond back to your comments on the comments page so check back for a response). Thanks for reading!

-Brittany Ruth