Wanderings and Ramblings : Heidelberg Castle--a slightly different view

I have noticed that I tend to post lots of photos of our day trips, weekend getaways and vacations, but not a whole lot about the truly lovely town in which I am privileged to live. I really hope I can make a point of correcting that; Heidelberg is genuinely beautiful--with fabulous architecture (nearly all of which survived WWII unscathed), pretty landscaping and a beautiful natural surrounding. You really could not ask for much better.

To that end, after Rio's braces came off this morning (YIPPEE!!!), he and I headed up to the castle, camera in hand.

There are four ways to reach Heidelberg Schloss:

1. By car. You won't find parking up top--so you'll need a taxi ride or a friend to drop you off.

2. By funicular. The train picks up down in town near the statue of the Virgin Mary and is a quick and scenic trip up (note: for an extra fee you can take the train all the way to the top of the Konigsstuhl for some very nice views; and in summer there is an amusement park for very young children as well). In the last couple of years the ticket price has included entry to the courtyard and keg at the castle

3. By foot, climbing the 315 stairs which arrive near the main entry, and quite close to the funicular stop.

4. By foot, climbing the ramps which go under the base of the castle and eventually let you out into the moat (which was not designed to hold water, BTW--it simply left intruders in a very vulnerable position, easy to spot with no escape on either side, as well as providing a place to keep "wild" game ready for slaughter when needed for a meal). This brings visitors in from the back side, with the main entry being the last place you would reach.

Options 3 and 4 give you a bit of a workout and really drive home the reason why castles and fortresses were built on hilltops.

I would say, based soley on casual observations, that probably 50% or more of tourists who visit the castle see only the area in the immediate area of the funicular stop and the inner areas which require paid admission (the courtyard, the pharmacy museum housed within and the world's largest wine barrel ever put to regular use). Many also pay for a full tour which goes into some of the interior rooms.

It is really too bad that so many people miss the other, free, areas. In my opinion, the paid entry areas are the least interesting and, even if the admission price were the same; I feel the best and most interesting or beautiful areas are those that are now free--and are often skipped by tourist who are either short on time or energy or simply unaware of how much more the area has to offer.

There are few nicer places to sit with a drink or picnic than the upper terrace gardens--sometime this summer, when there is no imminent threat of rain (as there was today), I will take the camera up and show you that area, and the super views of the city from there.

Today, Rio and I made it up the stairs, and down and around via the ramps, managing to grab some photos to share before the rain started, literally within seconds of us stepping out the gates that lock the path in winter.

I hope you enjoy this slightly different than the norm set of photos of our city's primary attraction:

The area on the backside of the castle (between the main building and the hilltop garden terraces) is heavily wooded. Here you can see the woods just opposite the walls in the prior photographs, and catch a glimpse of the terrace on which picnics are so fun to have:

At the base of the castle, in nicer weather, there is a path that takes you down through the wooded area and ends up very near the Karl's Tur city gate on the far end of town. I love this path--it is so peaceful: