Universitatstadt Heidelberg

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As expected, Heidelberg had the strongest resemblance to the character of Ann Arbor of any place we saw on our trip. It is a beautiful college town with lots of ethnic restaurants, a large walkable upscale shopping district, and a large proportion of young adults and the young at heart. Of course, Ruprecht-Karls Universitat (the official name), the oldest University in Germany, was founded way back in 1386 and there is also a castle much larger than any of those mansions on Washtenaw. The Romantic movement of the late 18th and 19th centuries was quite charmed by the crumbling castle, and the city has been a tourist destination since at least then.

The famous 13th century gates on the Karl-Theodor bridge crossing the river Nekar.

Hauptstrasse, the long pedestrian commercial street running through the old city.

The town hall.

Isis and Horus watch over us.

The Haus Zum Ritter, the only mansion to survive the 17th century devastation from the French invasion.

The houses on the hill must be for the full professors.

The crumbling schloss (castle).

The Dong Dong tongs.

On the other side of the river, there is a Philosophenweg (philosopher’s walk) that allegedly inspires academic meditations.

Dan having deep thoughts on the Philosophenweg.

The view of the city from the Philosophenweg.

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