May 23, 2013

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Stroll the Philosophers’ Walk in Heidelberg

February 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

HeidelbergMost of Europe’s cities have an inescapable charm and character all of their own, with a striking sense of having stood for centuries. Heidelberg, in the south west of Germany, is no exception. Beautiful architecture lines the River Neckar here while the oldest university in the country attracts students on a global scale, giving the city a vibrant, youthful atmosphere. Contrasting with this playful appearance, churches, monasteries and the castle stand as a tribute to Heidelberg’s historic past. For any travel to the city use a price comparison site such as Money Supermarket to find the best deal on insurance for your trip.

Popular Historic Sites

One of the most visited attractions in Heidelberg is the Alte Brucke (Old Bridge), which was preceded by various wooden constructions that were time and again destroyed by disasters including floods, fire and ice. Nine arches proudly traverse the river and the bridge which stands today was built from red sandstone between 1786 -1788. Goethe was fascinated by this structure and he once claimed it to be the most beautiful bridge in the world. Look out for the intriguing sculptures as you cross, particularly the monkey on the right hand side of the towers.

Step back in time at Heidelberg Castle, where you will find a history almost as old as the city itself. Partially ruined, it is an important landmark to the Renaissance period with beautiful views across the downtown area. Take a tour into the cellar and you will see the ‘big barrel’; built in 1591 it is a wonderful photo opportunity.

There are many churches to explore as well including Peterskirche (St Peter’s Church) and Michaelskloster (St Michael’s Monastery), a ruined monastery reached via Philosophenweg.

Gardens

Those with green fingers will simply adore the botanical gardens at the university, one of the oldest botanic gardens in the whole country dating back to 1593 when it was used to cultivate medicinal herbs. Conservation and education are the primary uses for the garden today and it is a great place to see unique plant collections in the greenhouses as well as outdoor areas such as the alpine garden and heath bog.

City Walks

A place for quiet contemplation, Philosophers’ Walk or Philosophenweg takes you on a tranquil route through vineyards of the 17th and 18th centuries. University professors and students used the walk when they needed to have serious philosophical discussions while enjoying views across the Neckar. Sub-tropical plants thrive along the way including lemons, bamboos and even Japanese cherries.  It is easy to see why German poets fell in love with Heidelberg here.

Shopping

Head into the historical city centre for shopping opportunities galore with more than 400 companies on offer. From quaint independent stores to the larger chain and department options, purchase unique gifts or treat yourself to something special and quintessentially German. After a spot of retail therapy, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can unwind and watch the world go by.

 

Image credit: FelixHuth

Filed Under: Germany, Heidelberg

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Berlin Zoo – A Brief Guide

November 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Berlin ZooBerlin zoo is one of those places that can fascinate many people, before they even get there. With over 17000 animals of over 1500 species, 3 million visitors a year and a badge of the most visited zoo in Europe as well as a total area of over 84 acres, it comes as no surprise.

Berlin Zoo – the History

But the Berlin Zoo is not only the numbers, the most fascinating thing is its history. Set up in 1844 it was the very first Zoo in the present day Germany. It was extended in 1913 with a large aquarium. But, during the WWII the Berlin Zoo was completely destroyed and only 91 of nearly 4000 animals had survived.

By the end of the war the zoo became a centre of anti-russian resistance. Bunkers, anti aircraft weapons, fortifications and watchtowers were built on it’s area and was a witness to some heavy fire. However, after the war the Berlin zoo was not only rebuilt. Out of the 91 animals (including a hippo bull, baboons, chimpanzee, lions and few others) the zoo managed to breed more and more, including some rare species. It was one of the greatest achievements in that field at the time.

One of the key decisions made when the Berlin Zoo was being rebuilt was to recreate the animal enclosures to be as close to their natural habitat. This one thing alone contributed greatly to the Zoo’s successes in breeding animals.

Today the Berlin Zoo runs a breeding program for many endangered species and supports cultivationinsts in various parts of the world.

Berlin Aquarium

The Aquarium is an addition to the original zoo, opened in 1913. It is famous in the World for it’s biodiversity. The aquarium can be visited separately or as part of the Berlin Zoo tour.

The Aquarium presents over 9000 animals, from tropical fishes to crocodiles, insects and reptiles.

The Animals of the Berlin Zoo

Some of the most famous animals in the Berlin Zoo include a polar bear named Knut. Rejected by his mother at birth he was raised by the zookeepers.

A giant panda Bao Bao is the oldest Panda in any zoo.

Photo credit: EnglishGirlAbroad

Filed Under: Berlin, Germany

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A Visit to Castle Schleissheim on the Outskirts of Munich

November 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Castle Schleissheim on the outskirts of Munich is not a very well known castle in Europe. But this is part of its charm. Because of this, visitors are not crowding into every room, and if you go there on a weekday you may even have the castle and its beautiful park to yourself during the day. The locals come here for jogging in the park, going for a walk along the many pathways that crisscross the extended park lands, sit quietly on one of the many benches along the canal that links the main castle with its smaller counterpart at the other end of the waterway to read a good book, soak up the sun or watch the impressive fountain that juts its water high into the air on a hot summer day.

The main castle is very impressive and reminds visitors of much bigger castles in France. It was built between 1701 and 1719 for the Bavarian Kurfürst Max Emanuel. Its interior rooms were decorated by such famous artists as Johann Baptist Zimmermann, Cosmas Damian Asam and Jacopo Amigoni. There are actually three castles on the grounds of Schloss Schleissheim: the main castle or “Neues Schloss”, the old castle or “Altes Schloss” and “Schloss Lustheim”, which presents a valuable porcelain collection. The old castle is used as a museum and has a permanent exhibit about religious festivals and the role of religion in the daily lives of people worldwide. The main castle is the most impressive of the three and is sometimes used for official events, concerts and state visits, but most of the time it is open to the public. It includes the Maximilianskapelle, an impressive chapel, the big hall, the sala terrena and the big dining hall which can all be rented for private or public events. Castle Lustheim was built as a garden castle by Kurfürst Max Emanuel for his bride to be: Maria Antonia, the daughter of the Austrian emperor.

The most beautiful part of the whole ensemble, however, is the extensive park with its fountains, opulent flower beds which are replanted every few weeks during the summer to change with the seasons, its woodlands, green open spaces and network of pathways which invites the visitors for extended walks through the castle grounds. During summer there also is a big beer garden next to the old castle, part of which is maintained as a restaurant. The bigger part of it is used as a regular beer garden, where you can either buy your pretzels, sausages or Leberkäs with a pint of beer or where you can bring your own food and just get a fresh draught with it. Thus you can easily spend a whole day on the castle grounds during the summer. During the winter, the castle is closed. The grounds, however, are open to the public, even if the pathways are not cleared.

Castle Schleissheim and its park can easily be reached from downtown Munich by S-Bahn. Just take the S1 to “Oberschleissheim”. From the station it is only a short walk to the castle grounds. There also is limited parking available in front of the main castle. During the day it is no problem finding a parking space. On weekends, however, and during public events it will be difficult to find a parking spot. Also note, that the castle grounds are not open 24 hours a day. The gates to the park are closed at sundown, the times of closure vary with the season. There is a small entrance fee to be paid for each castle. If you only want to visit the grounds, the access is free.

Photo credit: pakitt

Filed Under: Germany, Munich