PRESS RELEASE Heidelberg – a Hot Tip for Hikers The town is ideally situated for hiking trips into the great outdoors Heidelberg – The Neckar, which wends its picturesque way through the verdant valley, and the romantic castle ruins, perched above the rooftops of the beautiful old town – Heidelberg is the epitome of German romanticism and top of the wish list for countless city break lovers. “The town, with its location and everything surrounding it has, one might say, something perfect about it”, confided Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to his Heidelberg is known all over the world for its romantic atmosphere, with millions of visitors succumbing to its charms every year. Photo: Heidelberg Marketing diary more than 200 years ago – and even today millions of visitors succumb to its magical charms every year. And rightly so, as the town on the Neckar offers within a manageable space a plethora of attractions that simply ooze with history. As the ideal starting point for a hike, the royal university town of Heidelberg is something of a well-kept secret. Hikers and anyone in search of some rest and recreation can explore the woodland and the magnificent surroundings directly from the town itself. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the town for a while, if, in the truest sense of the word you want to trace the remains of the past, Unparalleled views of the town can be enjoyed during a hike along the Philosophenweg on the Heiligenberg. Photo: Heidelberg Marketing then the 330 meter high Heiligenberg – opposite Heidelberg Castle – is the place to go. The summit of the legendary massif offers the best views of Heidelberg. Since the fifth century BC, the mountain has played a special role in the fluctuating history of the Heidelberg region. Various relics from the Celtic, Roman and medieval periods have been preserved, restored and linked to create an undemanding circular path, the Keltenweg. Half way up the Heiligenberg is the world-famous Philosophenweg with its garden, benches and views. Up here, everything flowers weeks earlier than down in the valley, especially the exotic plants: Japanese loquat and American cypress, Spanish broom and Portuguese cherries, lemons and pomegranates, bamboo, palms and pines. Heidelberg Marketing GmbH Neuenheimer Landstraße 5 69120 Heidelberg Tel.: +49 6221 58 40 200 Fax: +49 6221 58 40 222 www.heidelberg-marketing.de Press contact: Anja Barlen-Herbig Head of Communications Mobil 0170 2089310 Tel.: +49 6221 58 402 40 E-Mail barlen-herbig@heidelberg-marketing.de The microclimate in the gardens favors exotic plants: Japanese loquat and American cypress, Spanish broom and Portuguese cherries, lemons and pomegranates, bamboo, palms and pines. Photo: Heidelberg Marketing PRESS RELEASE Heidelberg's local mountain, the 567 meter high Königstuhl, provides an oasis of peace and tranquility and stunning views over the town and the Neckar valley. A steep stairway (known as Jacob's Ladder) leads up from the Castle . A funicular railway has also been in operation since 1907. A ride up the mountain is an unforgettable experience: the funicular is part of Germany's cultural heritage. Starting down in the town at the Kornmarkt station, it stops at the Castle and Molkenkur stations before reaching the Königstuhl. During the summer months the temperature at the top of the Königstuhl is between five and degrees colder than in the town. Numerous fascinating trails catering for every taste lead off from the Königstuhl into the beautiful surroundings. Two in particular are worth mentioning: the “Via Naturae” and the “Walderlebnispfad”. The main feature of the 8 kilometer long “Via Naturae” is its woodland - the natural basis of man's livelihood. The “Walderlebnispfad” is an educational and adventure trail, especially for children. The “Neckarsteig” has to be the choice for more adventurous hikers – 126 kilometers from Heidelberg to Bad Wimpfen through one of the most romantic river valleys in all of Germany. The Neckar, which sometimes flows gently and at other times is more lively, will remain your loyal companion. Historic small villages, idyllic nature trails, imposing fortresses and castles dot the banks all along your route. In January 2012, the “Neckarsteig” was awarded the special “Wanderbares Deutschland” quality distinction by the Deutscher Wanderverband - the German Hiking Association. Sun-drenched vineyards and peaceful woods are the hallmarks of the “Burgenweg”, another hiking trail that starts in Heidelberg. The route leads you for 90 kilometers above the Bergstraße from Heidelberg Castle to Burg Frankenstein, just south of Darmstadt. The west bank of the Odenwald rises impressively over the broad plain of the Rhine. Leave the hectic of the world behind and enjoy the glorious views of the small but lively wine-growing villages that the Burgenweg repeatedly offers you. Heidelberg Marketing GmbH Neuenheimer Landstraße 5 69120 Heidelberg Tel.: +49 6221 58 40 200 Fax: +49 6221 58 40 222 www.heidelberg-marketing.de Press contact: Anja Barlen-Herbig Head of Communications Mobil 0170 2089310 Tel.: +49 6221 58 402 40 E-Mail barlen-herbig@heidelberg-marketing.de Stunning views over the valley from the Königstuhl. Photo: Tony Buchwald PRESS RELEASE Castles and fortresses, enchanted ruins and beautiful parklands line the route. For more information or to make a booking, visit www.heidelbergmarketing.de or call +49 6221 58 40 224/-226. Heidelberg Marketing GmbH Neuenheimer Landstraße 5 69120 Heidelberg Tel.: +49 6221 58 40 200 Fax: +49 6221 58 40 222 www.heidelberg-marketing.de Press contact: Anja Barlen-Herbig Head of Communications Mobil 0170 2089310 Tel.: +49 6221 58 402 40 E-Mail barlen-herbig@heidelberg-marketing.de