Heidelberg

The Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz is a privately owned museum that focuses on the history of automobile manufacturers, specifically Karl Benz. The museum was established in 1984 and has been at its current location since 2005 - the current building was once a factory which produced automobiles under the C. Benz Sohne brand. You’ll be able to see numerous artifacts, memorabilia, and over 120 vehicles, from the first automobile in the world to the Mercedes-Benz Formula One racing car. Other displays also include the wooden wheel constructed by Freiherr von Drais and several wonderful scooters. An interesting fact is that only three of the vehicles built there exist worldwide, two of which are back on display in the factory hall for you to see.

Ilvesheimer Str. 26, 68526 Ladenburg, Germany, Phone: +49-62-03-18-17-86

The Botanical Garden of the University of Heidelberg was established in 1593 and is the third oldest botanical garden in Germany. It is maintained by the university for preservation and research purposes though much of it is open to the public for exploration. Having grown exponentially over the years, today visitors will be able to see over 14,000 plant taxa, with everything from succulents and orchids. They have a special collection of succulents from the Old World, tropical ferns, cycads, and carnivorous plants. Their herbarium has over 250,000 specimens, much of which you can learn about from the knowledgeable professionals there.

Heidelberg University: Im Neuenheimer Feld 340, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany, Phone: +49-62-21-54-57-83

Burg Handschuhsheim, or the Tiefburg as it is known, is a medieval moated castle that can be found in the heart of Heidelberg. The ruins are one of the most interesting sites you can explore during your visit there; guided tours of the castle and archive are available on certain days of the month so be sure to give them a call before you head over there. Aspects from the core castle that are still preserved today include the foundation wall, the defensive walls, and the vaults of the residential tower. The Tiefburg is home to many festivals and events throughout the year, much of which is open to the public and is a great opportunity to explore while having fun with friends and family.

Handschuhsheim, Tiefburg, Tiefburg, Dossenheimer Landstraße 6, 69121 Heidelberg, Germany, Phone: +49-62-21-40-95-84

The ruins of Heidelberg Castle are a prominent landmark in Germany as it is one of the most important Renaissance structures constructed north of the Alps. The earliest castle structure was built in 1214 but has been built, destroyed, rebuilt, and renovated many times over the years. The ruins have been a tourist attraction since the early 19th century and is often the subject of popular postcards and souvenir cups, which is why it is one of the most recognized icons in Germany. It has been visited by many famed persons such as Ludwig Giesz, a Heidelberg professor, and Mark Twain, an American author.

Schlosshof 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

Heidelberg Thingstatte is an open-air theatre that was built as part of the Thingspiel movement by the Third Reich; Thingspiel was a type of multidisciplinary theatre which was popular in the 1930s in pre-war Nazi Germany and this is one of the 40 theatres which was built out of the 400 planned. The protected cultural monument was built in the form of an egg-shaped amphitheater and can hold anywhere from 8,000 to 15,000 people for each event. You can visit the architectural masterpiece any time of the year, but to see it in use you must attend the annual Walpurgis Night celebrations which attracts nearly 14,000 people.

Heillgenberg, Heidelberg

Contained within the cellars of the Heidelberg Castle, the Heidelberg Tun is an extremely large wine vat that was constructed in 1751. When it was built, the vat had the capacity to hold 58,574 gallons of wine at a time, but now due to the drying of the wood, it can only hold 57,854 gallons. Supposedly, it took almost one hundred and thirty oak trees to create the towering structure. Though the concept was richly at the time, there are only four such barrels that were constructed in the history of Heidelberg. It was rarely actually used as a wine barrel and has in fact spent more time being a tourist attraction, and in recent years, a dance floor which can be found at the top of the tun.

Heidelberg Castle: Schlosshof 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

Founded in 1933, the Heidelberg Zoo is the brainchild of ornithologist Otto Fehringer who was supported by German chemist and engineer Carl Bosch. The zoo suffered from money shortage and other issues but managed to run for twelve years before it was completely destroyed during bombings in 1945. Nearly thirty years later, reformation of the zoo began. Today, you’re able to walk the 10 hectare land and visit the nearly 1,500 animals that call the zoo home. Kids love seeing the majestic beasts in the Africa enclosure, getting up close with brown bears, and playing around with the sea lions. One of their newest additions is an elephant house for young elephant bulls as part of a breeding program formed by the EEP.

Tiergartenstraße 3, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

One of the best ways to explore the beautiful surrounding is through a bicycle tour with Henry Heidelberg Tours. The journey lasts 90 minutes roundtrip and will take you from Heidelberg to Ladenburg and back. You’ll be able to cycle along the scenic Neckar River, the lush green lawns of Neckarweise, through the famed university campus and several other scenic landscapes. Your bikes are guaranteed to be of highest quality, and your guide, of the most knowledgeable on local history and interesting facts. Enjoy the picturesque surroundings and exploring the area’s highlights such as the lovely old market with Henry Heidelberg Tours.

Heidelberg, Germany, Phone: +49-176-23-66-87-16

The Garden of the Palatinate, or Hortus Palatinus, can be found on the complex of Heidelberg Castle. The Baroque garden was constructed in Italian Renaissance style in 1614 by Frederick V, Elector Palatine for his wife Elizabeth Stewart. At the time, the garden had used modernistic horticultural and landscaping techniques which made it a famous across Europe in the 17th century - even being recognized as “Germany’s greatest Renaissance garden” and the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. Funnily enough, the garden was never completed with the onset of the Battle of White Mountain, which forced Frederick and his wife into a life of exile, and the Thirty Years War where the gardens were used as an artillery base. When his son finally returned to the castle in 1648 the gardens were in ruins and stayed that way till today.

Schloß-Wolfsbrunnenweg 16, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

The Karzer comprises several museums housed in the University of Heidelberg that is filled with a number of collections. Within it, you will be able to see several aspects such as their Egyptological collection, their extensive collection of coins, facsimile collection of ancient texts, anatomy, and much more. Their Antique Museum and Casting Collection of antique sculptures is one of their most popular aspects as is their showcase of historical tools and photo library of European arts. Afterwards, be sure to head out to their Botanical Garden and Herbarium HEID or the Tertiary Garden of Geological Paleontology to see an incomparable collection of flora.

Grabengasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Phone: +49-622-15-41-28-13