The water moat
Rare in a region of hilltop castles.
GFreihalter — CC BY-SA 4.0 · GFreihalter — CC BY-SA 4.0 · GFreihalter — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Karl Philipp Fohr — Public domain
The Tiefburg is a small moated castle in the Handschuhsheim district north of Heidelberg, its name meaning literally the low castle — distinguishing it from the usual hilltop kind. Its origins reach back to the twelfth century, and what survives today is a square tower, sections of wall, and a moat that still holds water. The castle survived because it was never militarily important enough to be worth destroying: while Heidelberg's great castle was levelled twice in the wars of the seventeenth century, the Tiefburg remained relatively intact because it was the seat of a local noble family rather than a strategic fortress. Today it is the centre of neighbourhood life: the courtyard hosts a weekly market, summer concerts and a local festival, and the ground around the moat is a public park. This is not a tourist destination in the usual sense but a place residents actually use — which is precisely what makes it interesting for anyone wanting to see a Heidelberg beyond the crowded old-town route.
Rare in a region of hilltop castles.
Real neighbourhood life off the tourist route.
Dossenheimer Landstrasse, 69121 Heidelberg
Thingstätte & the Holy MountainAbove the bank facing Heidelberg's castle rises the Heiligenberg — the "holy mou20 minutes walk4.8
Bismarck TowerThe Bismarck Tower is a square stone tower on the Gaisberg hill north of Heidelb20 minutes walk4.4
HeidenlochThe Heidenloch is a deep stone shaft on the Heiligenberg hill in the forest abov20 minutes walk4.8
St Stephen's Monastery RuinsThe ruins of St Stephen's Monastery lie on the slope of the Heiligenberg north o20 minutes walk4.6
NeckarwieseThe Neckarwiese is Heidelberg's summer living room: a long green ribbon on the r22 minutes walk4.7On its own, no — it is small and the interior cannot be entered. It is worth it if you want to see a genuine residential quarter of Heidelberg, if you can time it with the weekly market, or if you are staying more than a couple of days and have exhausted the standard route. It is fifteen minutes by tram, so the time cost is low.