The Heidelberg Bergbahnen
The Heidelberg Bergbahn is one of the most modern funicular railroads in Germany. By using both mountain railroads, there is a relaxed ascent to the Königstuhl with a unique view of the Neckar valley.
History of the Heidelberg Bergbahn
What is the Heidelberg Bergbahn?
Stations of the Heidelberg Bergbahn
The Heidelberg mountain railroad was originally built for the Molkenkur plant. The lift was first built as far as the Molkenkur. In the end, there were two mountain railway stations after all.
Die erste Station ist die sogenannte Mittelstation. Dort befindet sich das Schlosshotel Molkenkur und die ehemalige Molkenkuranlage. Die zweite Station ist der Königstuhl.
History of the Heidelberg Bergbahn
The Heidelberg funicular and mountain railroads, You can also see a bit of the municipal utilities.
The history of the Heidelberg Mountain Railway began in 1873, when the Swiss engineer Nikolaus Riggenbach, drew up the first plans. The railroad had its first maiden trip in 1890. In 1907, the second station to the Königsstuhl was opened.
The total length of the line is 1491 meters. The track to the first station (Molkenkurbahn) is 471m long, while the track to the second station (Königsstuhlbahn) is 1020m long.
The mountain railroad also goes through a tunnel. This is 210m long and the ride takes a few minutes.
During the years the railroad was modernized again and again. In its beginnings, the first cable car still used the water-balast technique. In the meantime, the mountain railroad is considered to be one of the most modern funicular railroads. The upper mountain railroad was even listed in the monument book of Baden-Württemberg in 2004. Nowadays, more and more tourists use the mountain railroad. However, every now and then there is a maintenance of the two cable cars. The visitors are notified on the homepage.
Who is the inventor of the Heidelberg Bergbahn?
Niklaus Riggenbach drew up the first plans for a funicular railroad in 1873. This was the oldest documented mention of the mountain railroad. In the following years, there were subsequent discussions about which plans were the better ones. It was not until 1883 that the Heidelberg road and mountain company Leferenz & Co. gradually succeeded in completing the railroad. It was to take another seven years. In the end, the company managed to finish building the railroad. At the moment, the current operator is Heidelberger Straßen und Bergbahnen GmbH.
Who is the current operator of the mountain railroads?
Why should you use the Heidelberg mountain railway?
Unique view
By using the beautiful historic Heidelberg mountain railways, visitors get a unique view of the city of Heidelberg. In winter, there is a possibility to take a hike through a snowy landscape, while in summer, on sunny days, visitors can enjoy the weather in the castle and its surroundings. By the way, Heidelberg with its castle is one of the most famous cities in Germany.
King’s Chair Activities
Downhill from Königstuhl
There is a large area where you can legally ride downhill on the mountain. However, you must observe the rules of the club and the city of Heidelberg. The club has its own car, as you cannot take your downhill bike on the two Heidelberg cable cars. However, it is possible to ride from the start of the route into the city. This allows you to get to the beautiful Neckar and Rhine valley much quicker than if you were to do it on foot. Entry costs €60 for an adult and €40 for a young person. There is also a family membership for which you have to pay €80.
Fairytale paradise on the Königstuhl
The fairytale paradise was created by the current owner to give families an additional opportunity to have fun on the mountain. This is a wonderful activity for families with children.
Hiking trails on the Königstuhl
There are various starting points for hikers. The best known is the start at the car park. You should arrive here early to make sure you get a parking space. On sunny days, the car park is almost always full. Make sure that your rucksack contains at least one bottle of water, as it can be strenuous on sunny days. After the hike, you can visit the Molkenkur.
Prices and travel times at a glance
Price table (link)
Timetable (link)
Are there other places of interest in the vicinity of the Heidelberg mountain railway?
With the help of the mountain railroad, visitors can easily and quickly ascend the Königsstuhl. This gives you more time to visit the other historical monuments of Heidelberg. This is, among others, the famous Heidelberg Castle. It was partially destroyed by the French as a result of the 9-year War of Palatinate Succession. To visit the castle, you need an extra castle ticket. There is a combination ticket with the Heidelberg mountain railroad. If there is enough time, then the castle courtyard is recommended to make yourself comfortable on the lawn in the castle park. The castle is famous throughout Baden-Württemberg. You can survey the Rhine plain a few meters further over a small bridge. However, you should take care of yourself when you lean over the edge. In addition, you can enjoy the beautiful Königsstuhl and the view of Heidelberg. The highest point of the Königsstuhl is at a height of 569m. Every now and then there is a possibility to watch parachutists.
There is also the possibility to visit the Königsstuhl by bike. If you want to ride the trails and the forest paths, you should rather use a mountain bike or a gravel bike. With a road bike you can ride up the normal road. As a cyclist you have to respect the 2 meters rule.
There are also good trails that are nice in the summer. If you prefer more empty trails, then it is better to start either in the morning or in the evening. As a hiker, you have to watch out for cyclists. Once you have visited each station, you have two options to get to the old town. In the old town there are many different stores where there is something for every visitor. You can look from the Königstuhl on good days all the way to the Palatinate Wine Route.
Are there any overnight accommodations in Heidelberg?
There is more than one possibility to stay overnight on the Königsstuhl. At the middle station there is Schlosshotel Molkenkur. It is a 4-star hotel. At the second station you can even stay in the castle itself. There are events in the castle from time to time. But these usually need an extra reservation.
More Information
More information can be obtained directly at the location of the mountain railroad. If they have a fear of heights, then all passengers with a fear of heights should look ahead. You can find the contact on the homepage of the Heidelberg mountain railroad.
Direction
There are several ways to reach the Königstuhlbahn. If you came by train for a trip to Heidelberg, there are several lines from the main station. The other option is to take the RNV to the Rathaus/Bergbahn Heidelberg stop. The trip takes about 15 minutes with public transports e.g. RNV. This can also be reached by train. So it is possible to still explore certain streets in the old town of Heidelberg. On the other hand, there is the stop HD Schloss. This can be reached by bus line 30.
Parking is also available at the Kornmarkt. The cable car ride takes 9 minutes from Kornmarkt to the two Heidelberg cable cars.
Conclusion
If you want to visit the sights in a relaxed way, the Heidelberg mountain railroads from the company Heidelberger Straßen und Bergbahn GmbH is a great option. It is also a good alternative way for older people or for people with walking difficulties to reach the castle courtyard. So that you can also explore the rest of the sights on the Königsstuhl, you should plan enough time. In the evening, you can still have dinner at a restaurant of your choice in Heidelberg before returning to your hotel.