🇩🇪 Must-Visit in Germany: Romantic Heidelberg ✨

Heidelberg, one of Germany’s most beautiful towns, was visited eight times by Goethe, who once said: "I left my heart in Heidelberg." Victor Hugo wrote: "After ten days here, I couldn’t free myself…" Mark Twain originally planned to stay for a day but ended up spending the entire summer. 🚶‍♂️ Walking Route: Bismarck Square → Old Town → Heidelberg Castle → Old Bridge → Philosophers' Way 📍 Bismarck Square 📍 Heidelberg University / Old Town – The university is integrated into the old town, with buildings scattered throughout. Don’t miss the famous "Student Prison" (actually a detention room). A combo ticket (€4) includes the Student Prison, University Museum, and Old Hall. The student cafeteria offers great value for meals. Also worth seeing is the Holy Spirit Church, where clergy were once university scholars. 📍 Heidelberg Castle – One of Germany’s most beautiful castles, with exquisite sculptures and decorations on its façade. Originally Gothic, it was burned down by the French and damaged multiple times, resulting in a mix of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance styles. It is a masterpiece of German castle architecture. There was much debate on how to repair it, but it was finally decided to preserve its (incomplete state) – only reinforcing the structure without full restoration. Thus, we now see a partially ruined castle. 📍 Old Bridge – At the southern end stands a bronze monkey holding a mirror. Legend says touching the mirror brings wealth, and touching the mouse beside it brings fertility. The northern end features a statue of the Goddess of Wisdom and leads to the Philosophers' Way. 📍 Philosophers' Way – Winding along the mountainside, it offers panoramic views of the old town. With viewpoints, sculptures, and gardens, it’s named after scholars like Goethe and Hegel who often walked here to meditate. A perfect spot for sunset! 🌇 🏨 Accommodation: MEININGER Hotel is one of the best-value stays in Heidelberg. Rated 8.0 on Booking, I personally think it deserves a higher score. The rooms are modern, clean, and comfortable, just a 10-minute walk from the train station. Prices range from ¥500 to ¥900 (varies greatly – book in advance!). 🛍️ Shopping: The main street of the old town connects Bismarck Square and Market Square, forming one of Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping streets. Here, you can buy LAMY pens, Haribo gummy bears, and Lindt chocolate. Fun fact: LAMY was born in Heidelberg! 🚌 Transportation: The walking route is entirely accessible on foot, but traveling between the hotel and the old town or dining/shopping in the new town may require public transport. A day pass for buses can be purchased at the train station. Note: Tickets aren’t checked upon boarding, but fines for traveling without one are heavy! We arrived in Heidelberg from Cologne in the evening on our first day and spent most of the next day strolling along the walking route. The old town is charming and historic, filled with university legends. The castle, though unrestored, tells a story of history through its beauty and (decay). The Philosophers' Way, with its flowers, greenery, sculptures, and views, made us lose track of time. 🌿 #Heidelberg #JourneyViews #EuropeTravel #GermanyTravel ✈️