More pictures of Heidelberg

The panoramic view above shows Schloss Heidelberg and the Altstadt, with the Neckar River and the Alte Brücke visible on the right side of the photo.

This view looks toward the Neckar River from the Altstadt.

The Philosopher's Walk is visible on the hillside of the Heiligenberg, which you can reach by walking across the Alte Brücke (Heidelberg's old stone bridge, which is now reserved for pedestrians).

The Muttergottesbrünnen, or Mother of God Fountain, is in the Kornmarkt (a.k.a. the Corn Market or Grain Market). You can see a ruined section of Heidelberg Castle, a.k.a. Schloss Heidelberg, behind.

The statue in the square is a copy; the Baroque original, which once stood a few meters away, is now in the Kurpfälziches Museum.

The Karlstor, or Karl's Gate, is s a few blocks to the east of the Kornmarkt, just beyond the Altstadt.

The triumphal arch was built in 1775 as a tribute to Prince Elector Karl Theodor, who showed his gratitude by moving to Munich before the arch was completed.

The lower station of the Heidelberger Bergbahn, or Heidelberg Funicular, is just uphill from the Kornmarkt. This modern section runs to the Schloss (castle) and continues up to a station where you can transfer to an antique funicular line.

The fully restored vintage funicular will take you to the mountaintop attractions of the Königstuhl.

Back in the Altstadt, the University of Heidelberg's Studentenkarzer or Student Prison was used to punish ill-behaved college boys until 1914.

The students left jail to attend classes in the adjacent university building, then returned to their cells at night.

The Heidelberger Schloss (also spelled Schloß), is Heidelberg's iconoic sightseeing attraction. Heidelberg Castle was home to the Prince Electors of Heidelberg from about 1400 to 1620.

Down by the Neckar River, you'll see excursion boats (above) and--during the cruise season--vessels like the MS Swiss Crystal (inset) that stop in Heidelberg during leisurely cruises of the Neckar and the Rhine.

The University of Heidelberg has long been known for its fraternities or dueling societies, which are the German equivalent of Yale's Skull & Bones.

The fraternities attract wealthy, conservative students from old alumni families, and other students often look down on them (both figuratively and literally in some cases; the photo above was taken from the Schloss or Castle, and you can see yellow paint that anti-fraternity students dumped on the roof of this frat house).

The Universitätsbibliotek, or University Library, is located in the Altstadt. The library was completed in 1905, and--like many old buildings in Heidelberg--it is made of red sandstone.

The Universitätsbibliotek is one of the world's great academic libraries, with some 2.5 million books and an outstanding collection of 890 Old German manuscripts that were taken to Rome during the Thirty Years War and later returned by the Vatican. You can visit the library, and admission is free.

Christmas Markets

One of the nicest times to visit Heidelberg is at Christmas, when the Heidelberg Weihnachtsmarkt is in full swing. About half a dozen Christmas markets are scattered along and near the Hauptstrasse from the Bismarkplatz to the Kornmarkt, with attractions that range from sausage and Glühwein vendors to an ice-skating rink.

You can walk from one end of the old town to the other, drinking and noshing as you enjoy peering in the windows of stores like the Café Konditorei Gundel (inset photo) with their Christmas displays.

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