Heidelberg, 1 hôtel

Heidelberg Castle has been home to numerous electors over the years. Many of them had renovations and extensions carried out during their reign, resulting in the creation of an impressive building with magnificent gardens. During the Thirty Years War, Heidelberg and the castle were conquered by General Tilly and the famous manuscripts and prints from the Palatinate library were taken to the Vatican. In 1688/89, during the conquest by the French troops in the War of the Palatine Succession, the castle was looted again, set on fire and destroyed. Since then, parts of the castle have been restored and the castle ruins are one of the most famous and most visited in Europe.

The official name of the Old Bridge, which links the old town with the Neuenheim district, is Karl Theodor Bridge. Today’s stone bridge was commissioned and erected by the Prince Elector Karl Theodor in 1768-1788 and stands on the spot where its predecessors once stood. Since they were made of wood, they were more vulnerable to damage through war and high water. On the old town side you’ll find the Bridge Gate. Part of the old city wall dating back to the Middle Ages, it remains standing to this day. In 1945, during World War Two, the bridge was blown up. However, it was able to be re-opened only two years later. The piles are decorated with statues of the Prince Elector Karl Theodor, Athena and John of Nepomuk, the patron saint of bridges.

The old town accounts for much of Heidelberg's charm. A number of poets, such as J.W. von Goethe, Friedrich Hölderlin and Clemens von Brentano have been won over by this charm, and have dedicated poems, odes or songs to the city. Between south Neckar Bank and the slope up to the King’s Seat you’ll find an array of tourist attractions. The many little alleyways lined with historic buildings will make you want to take a nice stroll, to spend time enjoying the prettily landscaped squares and little gardens. As well as Heidelberg Palace, the Church of the Holy Ghost and the university you’ll find an array of galleries and museums there.

The buildings of the University Library, designed by the architect Joseph Durm, are an artwork in and of themselves. Its design elements date from between the renaissance and baroque periods, the so-called German Mannerism mixed with Art Nouveau elements. The facade is decorated with countless ornaments and lovingly detailed. The entrance is designed in the spirit of a library. To the left there is a statue of Prometheus, to the right there is a woman with child, representing the passing on of knowledge from one generation to the next. The complexity of the design flows on inside the library, so it is definitely worth exploring.

Schwetzingen Palace is situated around 10 km from the B&B Hotel Heidelberg. A moated palace built in the Middle Ages was turned into a luxurious summer residence for the Palatinate electors in the 18th century. Elector Johann Wilhelm first instigated the reconstruction in 1699, but the palace only really flourished under Carl Theodor of the Pfalz-Sulzbach family. The palace offers year-round guided tours, where you can discover the electoral premises. The new installation, which was carried out in 1991, is based on inventory books from 1775 and 1804. A key feature is the palace garden, which is a masterpiece of European garden art.