"Yes, indeed it is a fascinating... " a Heidelberg Travel Page by leics

........but Handshuhsheim was even better. It will have to have a travelogue on this page, for I cannot find it in the VT database.

Many thanks to christine.j , whose local knowledge enabled me to discover the wonderful Medieval paintings in St Vitus' church (and how scrummy a German red-berry kuchen can be!).

But after Christine had gone back to work, I had a little exploration of Heidelberg proper.

First thing to note is that it is a long way from the railway station to the centre; you'll need to get a tram

And the pedestrianised main street is also very long (a mile or so, I believe). Fortunately, there is a bus from the far end back to the railway station.

It was very hot, and very humid, so my explorations were not as detailed as they usually are.

I didn't make it up to the castle (the views are excellent, I'm told).

Nor did I go inside many buildings.

So really, this is just the briefest-of-brief impression gleaned from a far-too-short visit

First impressions:

.....a divided place, with a touristy historical centre and vibrant, busy town/city outside it........

.......lots and lots of obvious overseas visitors, tour groups, school parties (French, mostly)........

...lots and lots of twiddles and decoration on lots and lots of the buildings (more than enough for their own travelogues).....

...lots of tourist-kitsch, of course, and the first beggars I'd seen since landing in Germany (although the Karlsruhe beggars appeared on the Saturday).....

...and lots of students!

My perceptions were undoubtedly coloured by the humidity, the heat and my own tiredness (having arrived the day before, and not really caught myself up).

Although it is a place well worth visiting, it did not strike me as somewhere I would want to spend too much time. A day or two would be enough, I think.

I liked the ultra-decorative building exteriors, and the cool, calm whiteness of the Jesuit church, and the river surrounded by wooded hills.....

So:

A place to visit, definitely. Probably better out of season (like most places), with space to explore without the hordes.

But Handshusheim....that's an entirely different experience!