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Uploaded below is my summary video of our Heidelberg 2014 adventure. You may download it (254 MB) to your own device, in case someday I too fail the test of time.
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The Black Forest is the location of many fairy tales and legends. Although we never saw witches or mermaids, we did get to explore some of the history of this area in person. Huge, rolling hills covered in evergreens span the horizon, with charming clusters of houses randomly scattered about.
We visited three distinct locations on this excursion:
The Black Forest Free Light Museum (literally) is an open air museum showcasing a number of homes which once existed deep in the Black Forest. These homes or farm houses were disassembled, trucked out of the forest, and reassembled in this museum yard so that they could be preserved.
There were a number of houses, each with variations on the type of roofing used and the general layout inside. These differences had to do with the original location of each house. Those further north would use straw roofing to improve insulation, for example.
Also on display were some of the societal characteristics of these past villages, including traditional clothing. These two ladies walked along the trails wearing red hats. These hats would have indicated the eligibility of a woman, and the effect of this was in enforcing modest interaction between boys and girls. A boy found alone with a girl in a red hat would have been a problem.
Naturally, while we were there we enjoyed a piece of Black Forest Cake. Soaked in Kirschwasser (cherry liqueur), it was a delicious complement to our Bratwurst Spezial lunches.
The museum also had the stereotypical German timepiece for sale: the cuckoo-clock. As our tour guide was quick to point out, most Germans indeed hate these things.
Once we left the museum, we made our way to the Mummel Sea, which is in fact only a small lake. What is particularly interesting about this lake is the altitude: 1,036 meters. It was a serious climb, and the pressure difference was noticeable as our ears popped.
The myth of this lake is that there are mermaids who live beneath the surface, who are only active after the sun sets. There is also a water king, and it is impossible to not think of King Trident and Ariel here.
The view from this high in the mountains was quite astonishing.
Mummelsee Panorama at 1km (warning: 7MB)
After hiding from the rain and getting more Black Forest cake, we piled back into the bus to reach our final destination: Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg.
Baden-Baden is, as our tour guide put it, a city whose culture is built on deception. The architecture and art that defines this city is all borrowed or copied verbatim, often creating interesting anachronisms. Some buildings have combinations of styles, hand picked as desired by whoever commissioned the building.
It is also a city of wealth and status, where the social elite could gather and socialize. A casino, natural spring spas, theaters and an opera house attract the well-dressed from around the world.
This is sadly the last official excursion of the Heidelberg Summer School. Ranging from 22 – 25 Euros, these excursions were an excellent way to see more of the country, and the tours provided by the guides (Jonas in particular) were very insightful into German history and geography. Very much worth the time, and the early mornings!
As the bus was crossing the bridge at the Germany-France border, our tour guide announced, “I hope you all brought your passports!” Very funny, thought a number of us who were initially caught off guard. Travel between most EU member countries does not require a passport. In fact, there is usually no border control at all! Our bus continued into Strasbourg, France, and we were greeted by street signs in French.
Our first stop on the other side of the border was the European Parliament, at the glass-faced building located along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin. We stopped there for a quick photo-op.
We then drove a short distance to another building at this site, le Palais de l’Europe.
After an even shorter photo session, we were finally let off at Place de l’Étoile, and began our exploration on foot. We started by walking towards the old town, which is mostly on the island at the heart of the city. Yet again, we were all met with very old architecture and really small and quaint streets.
The first major landmark we visited was le Palais Rohan, which faced the canal.
Perhaps the biggest attraction here is la Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg.
It is a giant single-towered church, with well preserved and impossibly intricate stone detailing, inside and out.
Inside, there is an astronomical clock, which keeps track of much more than just time.
After our smaller buddy group left the church, we discovered the entire tour group had disappeared. So, after scooping up another lost soul, we wandered the little cobblestone streets of the old town some more.
Somehow, we found the group 5 seconds before the guide announced it was time to break for lunch. So, we looked around for a place to eat and found an inexpensive pizzeria. In keeping with my (failed, but valiantly attempted) goal to try a new beer every day, I discovered a Turkish beer called Efes, which I had to try.
It was actually rather tasty, I must admit.
After lunch, the group met at a bridge to continue on to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. There we found a diversity of expositions to explore. To get there, we got to cross this very neat covered bridge, which also seemed to double as a storage area for random sculptures.
The museum was the final point of our tour, and we made our way back for the bus to Heidelberg.
This was the second-last weekend excursion I will do here. Stay tuned for a post sometime next week about Sunday’s Black Forest trip!
On Saturday, I went on my first excursion offered by the university. We went to Cologne, a three hour bus trip from Heidelberg. It is yet another incredibly old city that reminds me of just how young North America is. Churches and artifacts dating back hundreds to thousands of years are easy to find here.
When we first arrived, our guide from the university asked that we stick close and keep pace with his tour. He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable, which certainly made it more fun. We began by discussing the outside of the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral).
He walked us around an area of Cologne home to many churches, as well as the city hall and several museums. The streets and markets are decorated with many fountains and monuments, reminders of just how much history exists here.
After his tour was complete, we were free to explore independently until our departure time.
After getting some lunch, the first stop was the Lindt Chocolate Museum. Although dreams of unlimited samples proved to be misguided, it was still an interesting look at the history of chocolate, and some of the processes involved in its production. Naturally, at the exit there is a shop with infinite chocolate varieties. A short visit there netted me a lemon white chocolate bar, and a bottle of Crème de Chocolat liquor.
The Rhine river runs through Cologne, and has a lot more traffic than the Neckar river in Heidelberg.
The next stop was inside the Kölner Dom. While we already saw the outside, a group tour inside is not possible, so we came back independently to go inside. Enormous stained glass windows and stone pillars follow the height of this church, and rows upon rows of pews run along its length.
After taking in the scale and only a small amount of the detailing of the Dom, the afternoon was waning and there was little time left to take on other sights. A short walk led to a really neat public water fountain, which doubled as a play area for kids.
The bus ride was about 3 hours each way, and at the end of the day I was happy to take a small nap on the way home. At 22 Euros, this excursion was a great way to see even more of Germany while I am here. I look forward to doing several more!
This weekend I have two excursions booked – Saturday is a boat trip along the Rhine, and Sunday is a trip to Strasbourg. Two and a half weeks remain in Heidelberg – plenty more to come!
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