24903GER
City Sightseeing & Facts and Free Time
Opening days/times, entrance fees, etc. listed on Yellow Pages attachment.
Outside tour of the Castle, Castle Yard and Wine Cellar with TM (see ACIS TM Notes)
· You need cash or ACIS card for entrances to the Castle yard, Great Vat and Pharmacy museum.
· You MUST reserve a space in advance if intending to drop off with the bus at the castle
· It is no longer possible to park at Neckarmünzplatz down by the river. Set down and pick up only; be aware that the walk to and from the castle is quite steep and not for “non-walkers”. Tickets for the castle now include the funicular, which may be a better option.
PROCEDURE
Drop off
NB: Call in advance during peak seasons (you can do this up to 3 days in advance) to reserve a time and space in the bus park up at the castle. (Tel: 0172 6200063) Your bus will be given a number. Ask your driver to take you up the (narrow, winding) road to the bus park and he should wait for you there. Walk up behind the castle (see map), give them time to admire the view, while you buy tickets from the ticket office. You should enter and exit the same way.
If, for any reason, your group is not using the bus then just follow signs to “Schloss” from Kornmarkt (15 min walk uphill). There is also a funicular, which leaves from near the Kornmarkt (see map). You can buy entry tickets for the castle at the funicular base station, which include the ride up/down. However, do not split the group since you will arrive at different entrances.
Duration
Your visit of the castle should take at least 45 mins. (See TM notes.)
If your group would like to visit the interiors of the castle, excepting courtyards, cellar and Pharmaceutical Museum, they need a separate ticket and a guided tour, which they pay for. This would generally only be possible if they can spend a full morning/afternoon at the castle.
Walk group along Hauptstrasse (Main Street)
You don’t have to do a sightseeing tour of Heidelberg, but you should walk them along at least part of the main street (Hauptstrasse) and point out the sights – churches, university, student gaol, etc. On some itineraries (especially with just one night in Heidelberg) this has to be done in the late afternoon/evening just before or after dinner.
FACTS AND FREE TIME SUGGESTIONS
Tourist office
at the station and riverside bus park (Neckarmünzplatz.)
Publications
you can usually pick up city maps and weekly information from your hotel
Currency exchange
at the station until 20.00, numerous banks and ATMs in the city centre
MUSEUMS
Students’ Gaol (Studentenkarzer)
Used for the rowdy and recalcitrant from 1712 to 1914. At the far end of the Old University building, (Augustinergasse 2), popular with groups
Kurpfälzisches Museum
Exhibits include fifteenth century art from the Rhineland including a Riemenschneider carved altarpiece plus the jawbone of Homo Heidelbergensis
German Pharmaceutical Museum
in the Schloss / Otto Heinrich wing
University Library
Fourteenth century manuscripts, plus original manuscripts from Heidelberg Romantics
THINGS TO DO
Cross the Old Bridge
for the best view of the castle and town, hardy souls can continue up to the Philosophenweg
Explore Marktplatz
The Marktplatz is attractive, with the Heiliggeistkirche (tiny shops clustering around its walls), the Rathaus and the fine Renaissance facade of the Haus zum Ritter
Shopping
The Hauptstrasse is the centre of a typical German pedestrian area, good shopping towards the far end, department stores around Bismarckplatz
Funicular
The funicular continues up above the Schloss to Molkenkur (cafe terrace view)
EVENING ACTIVITIES
Fireworks/Illuminations
The castle is illuminated at night and there are fireworks on the first Saturday deal
Kneipen/Traditional Student Pubs
(Zum Sepp’l (Karlsplatz) – newly refurbished and reopened),
Zum Roten Ochsen (Karlsplatz), Der Goldene Hecht (Steingasse 2), Schnookeloch (Haspelgasse 8). These can all get very crowded although sometimes more with tourists than students!
Discos
Ask at your hotel if there are any discos suitable for the age group of your students. Some places may let under-18s in – if accompanied by teachers – until midnight.
Scavenger Hunt
Heidelberg is ideal for a scavenger hunt as much of the centre of the city is pedestrianised