Altstadt, Heidelberg
I believe I haven’t share my experience visiting the Altstadt (Old Town), Heidelberg, Germany. Make yourself a coffee while reading this post with many interesting photos I captured for you.
Altstadt.
Altstadt, the oldest part of Heidelberg, sits just below the Schloss. It extends along the Neckar River for a mile, with Karlstor on one end, and Bismarckplatz on the other.
Neckar River on the left, Altstadt on the right.
Altstadt is a wonderful combination of old and new buildings, narrow streets, market squares, arts, history, science, shopping, eating and relaxing.
The Hauptstraße is the main road through the Altstadt, and is where most of the shopping is located. It is Europe’s longest car free zone (1.6km).
Other points of interest that can be found in the Altstadt include the Kornmarkt, the Church of the Holy Spirit, Hotel Zum Ritter and the Old Bridge.
Above is the Kornmarkt (Corn Market) which was once used for the collection and trade of agricultural goods. Seen at the background is the Town Hall (Rathaus). Rathaus was built first in 1701 after the War of the Palatinate Succession. In 1751 Prince Elector Karl Theodor embellished the building, and then in 1886, the east building was added. In 1908, part of the Town Hall was destroyed by a fire, and so once more had to be rebuilt. The building was expanded in 1961, adding another wing as well the bell tower.
Church of the Holy Spirit (Ghost).
One of the few buildings in Heidelberg to survive the many wars during the past centuries is the Church of the Holy Spirit which stands reverently in the Marktplatz. The construction of the church was completed in 1544 since the the foundation was laid in 1398. The church has been home to Catholics and Protestants alike throughout the centuries. In 1706 a divider separating the two denominations was put in when both wanted to have services there, and it remained until the 1930’s. The church also has remains of the tombs and epitaphs of the Palatinate electors as well as a collection of manuscripts.
Hotel Zum Ritter.
Hotel ZumRitter is located directly opposite the Church of the Holy Spirit on the Hauptstrasse. It was built in 1592, and is one of the very few buildings in Heidelberg to have survived the War of the Palatinate Succession. It is considered to be one of the most remarkable examples of the late German Renaissance period.
Prince Elector Carl Theodor built the Old Bridge in 1786. Although the fifth bridge built over the Neckar in this location, it was the first stone bridge to be constructed. The twin towers on the city side of the river were once part of the city wall, and contain dungeons used for housing criminals. In the center of these, hanging above the portcullis, is a plaque giving acknowledgement to Austrian troops who helped defend the bridge against a French attack in 1799. One of the most notable items on the bridge is the statue of a monkey holding a mirror. The legend surrounding this curious statue tells us that it symbolizes the fact that neither the city-dwellers nor the people who lived outside the city were better than the other, and that they should look over their shoulder as they cross the bridge to remember this.
I hope you enjoy reading this. I have hundreds of photos captured here and I will post more when time permits.
Information source: Tourism Heidelberg
45 Comments
Vera
Germany is a country I’d really like to see for myself. thank you for the lovely photos. 🙂
Unsunghero
Salam Emila…terima kasih kerana berkongsi pengalaman dan pemandangan indah di luar negara di sini 🙂
emila
You should visit Germany! You can travel with car on the Autobahn to get to another European countries.
emila
Sama-sama. Gembira dapat berkongsi.
farikica
The architecture is so sooo beautiful. But actually, i notice that most buildings in Europe are kinda the same…he..he..
Th
So pretty pic, love the colourful beautiful building
Th
Germany , no go before what is the language use? I mean there
nana
OMG! all the pix…so pretty! ni yg buat raser nak nyanyi lagu “the sound of music” nih heheh…
tips
Camne nak sebut? Bestnye p sane..:-):-)
tips
Bawak le saye p sane…. 🙂
TH
Wow the last pic is awesome very unique design
TH
If you know German language will be benefit
Niza
Your photos are so engaging. Makes me want to visit the place. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
emila
Thanks Niza! Glad I managed to get that feeling out of you. Do visit Heidelberg, you will fall in love with the place.
emila
I know little bit only. Ein bischen.
emila
Jom!!
emila
Sebut je oldtown. Best sangat. Rasa tak nak balik.
TH
Is good better than none.
dysha sahhir
akak barum pergi ke ne.. seronoknya
azah
wow.
azah
Bestnya kalau dapat pergi, menyingkap sejarah Adolf Hitler.
azah
Banyak inspirasi-inspirasi dari bangunan sana kan.
azah
bangunan di sana memang dibina dengan cantik, indah. Buat saya rasa macam nak duduk sana je.
azah
Akak dah pergi Vietnam? Saya teringin nak tengok monumen-tower batu bata merah bersejarah di sana.
azah
bawa saya juga. 😀
emila
Hehehe kan? Many have that Roman style.
emila
German language 🙂
emila
Indeed. I love the feeling when looking at old buildings.
emila
Nana, hehe kalau macam tu kita kena pergi Austria dulu.
emila
Boleh. Kena panggil professor I-Shrunk-the-Kid.
emila
Ini last year August. Dah post overall visit tapi yang ni post tentang public art yang akak jumpa kat sana. Banyak topik yang boleh diceritakan semasa kembara.
Th
I like the hotel colour is it natural colour? They colour it brown?
emila
Tu la. Kena pergi Berlin pulak.
emila
Betul tu.
emila
Architecture mereka very detailed.
emila
Belum. Jom pergi nak?
emila
I think they use redstone.
Hamdan
Menarik tempat ni. Dapat tengok gambar pun jadilah. Nak pergi tak tercapai oleh kaki… 😀
emila
Memang menarik empat ni, Hamdan.
Syuq
Jauh perjalanan luas pemandangan. Bila berada di tempat orang, mmg perasaan tu lain kan.. Seronok, teruja … banyak pengalaman…
jaja
the quality of photos all nice..
sis.. what camera did u used..
hope my dream to go to germany will come true.. 😀
Lya
Kak emila, cantik sgt warna bangunan…
Lya
Insyallah jaja 🙂
Lya
Betul2!
Yukino Hinata
agaknya movie2 yg ala2 zaman dulu buat setting kat sini kot. historic!