Germersheim Day Trip: History & Innovation

Heidelberg Castle is located on the Throne Mountain. It is built of red sandstone. Although it has been dilapidated, it still retains its former style. It looks down on the old city of Heidelberg and the Neckar River at the foot of the mountain like a king. The castle was built in the 13th century. Under the impact of 30 years of war and the war of title succession, the destroyed castle is still being repaired, and the heavy damage left by the war is still clearly visible. There is a cable car station to the castle behind the grain square on the south side of the market square. You can take the cable car of the castle, or you can choose to walk up from the stone steps of the grain square (about 15 minutes), and enjoy the scenery along the way. Before entering the atrium, you can pay attention to the ring handle on the city gate. There is a clear crack on it. It is said that the owner of the castle promised to give the castle to someone who could bite off the iron ring handle, so a witch was eager to try it. It was futile but left teeth marks. Stepping into the atrium, you will be greeted by Frederick's Mansion. The front wall is engraved with exquisite statues of emperors of all dynasties, which are very eye-catching. Enter the underground wine cellar on the left side of Frederick's Mansion, where the Grosses Fass is located. The world's largest wine barrel was built in 1591, with a diameter of 7 meters and a capacity of 220,000 liters. It is used to store the wine brewed by the townspeople, and there is a "small wine barrel" (KleinesFass) next to it. In one corner of the basement is the puppet of the Italian harlequin Pecoo, who has been in charge of the large wine barrel. Because of his addiction to alcohol, he is now regarded as a "Bacchus" by the locals and is well-loved. The bar on the side provides wine tasting, a glass of about 2.5 euros. The Otterherich Mansion on the front facade is very majestic. The exquisite carvings and decorations highlight the style of the Baroque period. There is a German Medicine Museum inside. The medicines from the 16th to 19th centuries are displayed in China, including the miracle medicine for the treatment of joint diseases. It is said to be derived from human fat. There is a red triumphal arch in the courtyard. Although it is not large in scale, it is quite romantic because it was built overnight. It was a 20th birthday gift from Frederick V to his wife in 1615. There is a large garden behind the castle, which is open for unlimited hours and is free to enter. You can enjoy beautiful flowers and fountains, and you can also overlook the old city of Heidelberg. There is a Goethe bench in the center of the garden, which is said to be a place where Goethe likes to linger and rest when he walks. There is a collapsed building next to the garden, yes, the powder tower, which still retains its appearance after being bombarded by the French in 1693, only half of which survived. Another theory is that the gunpowder tower was struck by lightning, so it became what it is today, so you might as well find out.

Heidelberg Bridge (AlteBrucke), also known as Karl-Theodor-Brucke Bridge, was built in AD 1869 and has a history of more than 200 years. This old bridge with nine arches was built by Elector Karl Theodor in 1786-1788. On the left bank of the river, a solid entrance was built leading to the bridge. At the head of the bridge there were two round towers guarding the entrance to the city. The towers used to be dark prison cells.

A prison is actually a place of confinement. From 1778 to 1914, students who violated the school rules were imprisoned here, but classes were still held, and they continued to be closed after class. Usually drunk, or offending a "crime" like a teacher. The students detained here are bored and enjoy graffiti on the walls of the prison. After more than a hundred years, they have painted and repainted, layer by layer, and it has become a scene today.