Scenic Runway

Heidelberg is a city in the Federal Republic of Germany which lies on the Neckar River in the southwest region of Germany not far from the border of France. Heidelberg was one of the few major cities in Germany not significantly damaged by Allied bombing during World War II. As a result, Heidelberg has retained its charm of narrow, cobblestone streets and charismatic houses of a quaint “old world” German town. The old town (Altstadt) is located near the Neckar River and the skyline of old town is dominated by the ruins of the Heidelberg Castle on the Königstuhl hill. The Castle, whose earliest structure was built before 1214 AD, is open to visitors and is a very popular tourist destination point. The Castle has been damaged and rebuilt many times. The Heidelberger Bergbahn funicular railway runs up the steep Königstuhl hill to the summit of the Castle. If you do not want to take the funicular railway to the Castle, you can walk up a steep incline walkway to the front gate of the Castle. We decided to take the stairway up to the top of the Castle, where we were able to take in spectacular panoramic views of the old town of Heidelberg and the Neckar River which made the climb completely worth it.

The 600-year-old Holy Ghost Church is located in the old town and is a very popular tourist destination point in Heidelberg. The church is surrounded by a market square with many restaurants with outdoor cafes, bars and souvenirs shops and is a very active area. The Old Bridge (Karl-Theodor Bridge) is a Historical Site that spans across the Neckar River and leads into the old town through the Old Bridge Gate. Along the banks of the Neckar River people leisurely stroll and ride their bicycles enjoying the scenic views.

Germany is famous for its production of some of the finest beers in the world. It is a common sight to see groups of people gathered together drinking beer into the wee hours of the night in “Beer Gardens”, which I discovered during my first visit to the city. Heidelberg has a vast array of microbreweries located in restaurants which produce many varieties of beer. Vetter’s a restaurant in old town Heidelberg is famous for having one of the finest beers in the world. Visitors from around the world frequent Vetter’s with its long wooden tables for its famous beer and its welcoming restaurant atmosphere. It is normal for customers to share tables with other restaurant customers which add to the comfortable feel of the restaurant.

Heidelberg is a place rich in culture where the first time visitor or frequent visitor to the city can enjoy the experience of “old world “Germany.

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