Heidelberg Excursion

I figured we could all take a break from my pictures of Spain for a bit (I still have two more posts coming on that) - plus maybe you'd like to see what Mr X is up to these days? I know I'm always interested in seeing some of the places his wanderings take him. On Saturday he decided to take a day trip to see Heidelberg. Here are some of his pictures:

This is a view of the city from the top of a rather steep nearby hill. Mr X rode the funicular because it was too icy and snowy to walk up on foot...plus funiculars are always a good time, right? I want to ride one. The river on which the town is situated is called the Neckar. It eventually flows into the Rhine at Mannheim.

Next Mr X explored the Heidelberg Castle. Here's a bit about it from Wikipedia:

"The castle is a mix of styles from Gothic to Renaissance. Prince Elector Ruprecht III (1398-1410) erected the first representative building in the inner courtyard as a regal residence. The building was divided into a ground floor made of stone and framework upper levels. Another regal building is located opposite to the Ruprecht Building: the Fountain Hall. Price Elector Philipp (1476-1508) is said to have arranged the transfer of the hall's columns from a decayed palace of Charlemagne to Heidelberg.

In the 16th and 17th century the Prince Electors added two representative palace buildings and turned the fortress into a castle. The two dominant buildings at the eastern and northern side of the courtyard were erected during the rule of Ottheinrich (1556-1559) and Friedrich IV (1583-1610). Under Friedrich V (1613-1619) the main building of the west side was erected, the so called "English Building".

The castle and its garden were destroyed several times (during the 30 Years' War and the Palatine War of Succession). When Prince elector Karl Theodor who resided in Schwetzingen tried to restore the castle, lightning struck the Castle in 1764 and ended all attempts at rebuilding."

This is a view of the city streets just below the castle. That little shop in the middle is where Mr X reports that he ate one of the most delicious Apfel Streudels he's ever had.

Apparently Mr X also took a stroll along the Philosophers' Walk. It's on the north side of the Neckar river and it takes its name from the fact that supposedly Heidelberg's university professors and philosophers regularly walked and talked along this path. *shrug* Either way, Mr X reports that the path afforded beautiful views of the town.