Date and almond trees can not be found in all cities of Germany. Heidelberg is located in one of the warmest regions of the country. And therefore, medal, date, and olive trees grow here. Among the cities of Baden-Württemberg, one of the sixteen federal states of Germany, Heidelberg ranks fifth. About 150 thousand people live in it. About the sights of the city of Germany, Heidelberg is described in the article.
Base
In historiography, there is such a term as “Heidelberg man”. It is used when it comes to people who lived on the territory of modern Europe several hundred thousand years ago. Their remains were discovered at the beginning of the 20th century near the town in question, near the village of Mauer (communes of Germany).
Heidelberg as a city is mentioned for the first time in documents that relate to 1196, namely in the records of one of the monks of Schönau. True, most of the districts of the city in those days were unpopulated.
Heidelberg was first mentioned as a fortress in Germany in 1225. After 150 years, a university was founded here. In the Middle Ages, Heidelberg in Germany served as the residence of the Counts of the Palatinate.
XVII-XVIII centuries
In modern times, several important battles took place on the territory of Heidelberg. During the Thirty Years' War, Imperial Field Marshal Earl Tilly captured the city. He took possession of the Palatine Library - one of Heidelberg's attractions.
Germany in the XVII century was not a strong state with a single culture. Residents of various lands hardly understood each other. The situation in the country worsened due to constant military conflicts. During one of them, the Great Alliance War, Heidelberg was conquered by the French.
What to see in Germany? In Heidelberg, as in many German cities, despite the destruction of World War II, many interesting historical buildings have survived. One of them is an old castle, which was partially blown up by the French back in 1693. This historical monument is described in more detail below.
In the XVIII century, the residence of the Electors was moved to Mannheim. Heidelberg has lost its political significance. Interest in this city revived only in the 19th century.
In the economy of Germany, Heidelberg, whose photo is presented in this article, takes not the last place. There are several large enterprises. Heidelberg University is located in this city, the history of which begins at the end of the 14th century.
How to get to Heidelberg
There are several transport hubs in Germany. The closest to Heidelberg are Stuttgart and Frankfurt. From Moscow they usually get by plane through these cities. From there, buses run to Heidelberg. You can also get from Stuttgart or Frankfurt by taxi. The distance from Stuttgart to Heidelberg is 120 km. From one city to another can be reached by train. It will take about an hour and a half on the road.
Heidelberg is 97 km from Frankfurt. You can also get from the airport by train. Travel time is a little less than an hour. Stations are located in the airport building itself. There are no direct routes to Heidelberg. You need to take a train from the Fernbahnhof station to Mannheim, and then change trains. Dispatched at hourly intervals (less often at night).
Heidelberg buses run from Frankfurt Central Station. The first leaves at five in the morning. Travel time is 1.5 hours. You can get there by taxi. Such a trip will cost about 160 euros (11.5 thousand rubles).
Education and medicine
Clinics of Heidelberg (Germany) are known throughout Europe. Here is the Cancer Research Center, one of the world's largest molecular biological laboratories. Heidelberg University Hospital specializes in the treatment of cancer, classical and adjuvant chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and psycho-oncology.
There are several educational institutions in the city. The most famous is Heidelberg University. In 1969, the Heidelberg Higher School was founded. Other educational institutions of the city are the Pedagogical Institute, the Institute of Church Music, the Institute of Jewish Culture and Religion.
sights
The cultural life of Heidelberg is determined by the presence of large universities. There are many entertainment centers, night clubs. In a word, the infrastructure of the city is focused primarily on students. One of the city’s most famous cultural centers is located in the Heidelberg-Altstadt station building. But of course, there is something to see here for lovers of art and antiquity.
This German city has eleven theaters and more than twenty museums. Among the architectural monuments, it is worth mentioning first of all the aforementioned castle, which has long become the main symbol of the city, as well as the Old Bridge, the Church of the Holy Spirit.
Other attractions of Heidelberg: University Library, Hotel at the Knight, Neuburg Abbey, Mount Heiligenberg, Mount Koenigstuhl Observatory, Providence Church, Kurpfalz and Ethnographic Museums, Friedrich Ebert House-Museum . In the vicinity of the city, music festivals and fairs are held annually.
Heidelberg castle
The construction was first mentioned in 1225 documents. In the XIV century, on the site of the Heidelberg castle, there were two small fortresses - upper and lower. At the end of the XVII century, the castle was attacked several times by the troops of King Louis XIV. In 1693, the French turned it into ruins.
For almost a hundred years, the castle was in a dilapidated state, although several attempts to restore it were nevertheless made. They wanted to demolish the building, and use the building material in the construction of the palace in the Neckar Valley. In the 18th century, Heidelberg Castle lost its significance.
For a long time, the authorities saw in this building "old ruins of many collapsed and tasteless ornaments." Opponent of this point of view was Count Charles de Gremberg. He arrived in Heidelberg at the beginning of the 19th century and spent more than 50 years here, devoting almost his whole life to looking after the destroyed castle. It was the Count who published the first guide to this historic building, which ultimately attracted the attention of tourists.
The restoration of the castle has been discussed for a long time. In 1890, a restoration project was prepared. But the castle was not restored - it turned out to be impossible. However, it was possible to strengthen the remaining parts. Reconstruction was carried out at the beginning of the XX century and cost 520 marks.
Celebrities such as Frederick V, Martin Luther, Victor Hugo, Mark Twain have visited the Heidelberg Castle at different times. In 1840, a railway was laid. Since then, Heidelberg Castle has become one of Germany's famous landmarks. Tourists come here not only from Europe, but also from Japan, the USA. The main attraction of the castle is the terrace, which offers beautiful views of the city and part of the Upper Rhine Lowland.
Church of the Holy Spirit
This is the largest and most significant temple in the city. The Church of the Holy Spirit is located in the historic Heidelberg district, in the middle of the Market Square, near the castle. The building is designed in the Gothic style. At the same time, the roofs were restored in the 17th century, and therefore represent an example of Baroque architecture.
The church is built of sandstone, material mined on the banks of the Neckar River. For some time the construction was a chapel and belonged to Peterskirche. However, from the day it was founded, it has been associated with the university, and its door has been used as a university bulletin board. This temple was first mentioned in documents of 1299.
Abbey Neuburg
The exact founding date of this Catholic monastery is unknown. It was built around the beginning of the XII century. In 1144, Pope Lucius II took over the Neuburg Abbey under his protection. At the end of the XII century, the monastery from the male became female.
Under the influence of the Reformation, the abbey sided with the Cistercians. For a long time, the building was in poor condition. By the end of the 15th century, the number of nuns did not exceed twenty. The situation changed for the better in the 18th century. The building has been renovated. Here appeared a shelter for the poor.
Neuburg acquired its modern look in the seventies of the XVIII century. Today the monastery is functioning, and since 1926 it is again male. True, there are not many monks. According to 2013, only fourteen. On the territory of the abbey are livestock and fisheries, a brewery.
Heidelberg Observatory
The first observatory in Baden-Württemberg was opened in 1774. It was located in Mannheim. In 1880 she was transferred to Karlsruhe, and then to Heidelberg, to Koenigstuhl.
The grand opening of the new observatory took place in June 1898. Today it includes two departments - astrometric and astrophysical. The main activity of this institution is the search for asteroids and the study of nebulae.
Mannheim Film Festival - Heidelberg
As already mentioned, various events of a global scale are held in the vicinity of the city. Mannheim - Heidelberg Film Festival ranks second in importance among other film festivals in Germany. The first belongs to Berlin.
The festival has been held since 1952. The competition is attended by directors, adherents of author's cinema. This festival once hosted the premiere of paintings by Francois Truffaut, Atom Egoyan, Jim Jarmusch, Thomas Winterberg.
Heidelberg Castle Festival
The event is held, despite the name, not in the walls of the main attractions of the city, but in the open. This is the most significant theater festival in Baden-Württemberg. It is held in the castle every summer.
The story of the action begins in 1926. At the opening, the premiere of the play based on the play of Shakespeare took place. The production was a success with the audience. The following year, Gerhard Hauptmann and Thomas Mann attended the ceremony as guests of honor. Today, the Heidelberg Castle Festival is one of the most important events in the German theater world.