Heidelberg facts
The Philosophenweg (Philosophers' Walk)
Where Heidelberg's most famous view comes from, where the name came from, and why Mediterranean plants thrive on this hillside.
Heidelberg's most famous walking path
The Philosophenweg (Philosophers' Walk) runs along the south-facing slope of the Heiligenberg, on the side of the Neckar opposite the castle. This is where the best-known view of Heidelberg's Old Town, the castle and the Alte Brücke (Old Bridge) opens up, the postcard shot that made the city world famous.
The sunny, sheltered slope was once used for growing wine, and to this day Mediterranean and partly exotic plants flourish along the path. The name "Philosophenweg" goes back to the early 19th century, when the poets and scholars of the Romantic era used the path, though its exact origin has never been settled. The image of professors and students strolling in thought is inseparable from the legend of the walk.
Today the Philosophenweg is a favorite destination for walkers. Steep footpaths such as the Schlangenweg (Snake Path) connect it to the Alte Brücke, with the climb starting right on the Neuenheim side of the Neckar. The path is part of many Heidelberg walking tours.
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