The switchbacks
A narrow lane between stone walls and vines.
Kassander der Minoer (mailto:cassandros@cityweb.de) โ CC BY-SA 3.0 ยท Stephan van Helden โ CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Stephan van Helden โ CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Stephan van Helden โ CC BY-SA 4.0
Yes โ you can reach the western end of the walk by car or taxi on a winding road, or climb from the far side on a longer but gentler route. But most visitors take the Schlangenweg because it is the shortest and closest to the Old Bridge, and the view unfolding as you climb is a genuine part of the experience rather than merely a means to it.
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The Schlangenweg, the snake path, is a narrow stone lane climbing the slope of the Heiligenberg from the bank of the Neckar up to the Philosophers' Walk above. Its name is a literal description: the path twists through a series of tight successive switchbacks between high stone walls and old vineyards, because the slope is far too steep to climb directly. This path is what makes the Philosophers' Walk reachable for most visitors โ Heidelberg's most famous promenade runs along the northern hillside facing the castle, and getting to it means a steep climb up from the Old Bridge. The ascent is around two hundred steps and takes fifteen to twenty minutes without stopping; it is genuinely tiring rather than a stroll. The reward arrives gradually: the higher you go, the more the view opens behind you โ the Old Bridge with its towers, the red roofs of the old town, and the castle on the opposite slope. The best timing is late in the day, when the sun strikes the castle's red sandstone face directly. The path is free and always open.
A narrow lane between stone walls and vines.
Opening behind you as you climb.
Schlangenweg, 69120 Heidelberg