Heidelberg has an excellent reputation around the world as a city with a rich scientific tradition and also as a modern home to industry and business. Heidelberg is also synonymous with German romanticism, due to its uniquely charming location and cityscape marked by the awesome Castle ruin, the Neckar River with the Old Bridge, and the forest-covered mountain slopes around it.
One of the things which make Heidelberg’s Old Town so special is that, although it was rebuilt in Baroque style after being destroyed in 1689 and 1693, the original close-packed medieval street layout was preserved. The Castle that towers about the Old Town is also regarded as one of the choicest examples of German Renaissance architecture, including some parts that were constructed in the 16th and early 17th centuries.
After breakfast, we took the bus into Heidelberg’s Old Town to visit its Universities.
Heidelberg University, founded in 1386, is Germany’s oldest. Counting about 25000 students, it is also the largest in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Today it is a major scientific and scholarly advance.
We then made our way up to the Schloss Castle. When I finally reach the Schloss Castle I was absolutely breath-taken, one reason was that I had to climb 314 steep stairs to get there and the second reason was the view was awesome.
After a 2 minute tumble down the steep hill, my Dad and I went down to the Neckar River with the Old Bridge.
After visiting an overpriced souvenir shop, we headed for a 5 hour bus trip to Switzerland. However due to the bad traffic conditions, it took us 7 hours. I spent those seven hours getting some beauty sleep and holding a lip-singing concert. =D
For lunch, we stopped at a petrol station with McDonalds next door. So what else is different about German Maccas?
When we finally reached Lucerne, Switzerland it was already dark, but we headed straight for the Lion Monument.
The Lion Monument is dedicated to the memory of the Swiss mercenaries, who, in the service of Louis XVI King of France, were killed during the French Revolution in Paris when the Tuileries were invaded on August 10,1792, or who were guillotined on September 2nd/3rd, 1792.
The inscription “Helvetiorium fidei ac virtuti” means “To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss”.
Bertel Thorvaldse (1770-1844), the classicist Danish sculptor, designed the Lion Monument when he was in Rome, in 1819. Lucas Ahorn, stone-mason of Constance (1789-1856), carved it out of the sandstone rock in 1820/1821. The sculpture is six metres high and ten meters long.
The Lion Monument was projected because of Captain Carl Pfyffer von Altishofen. He was in Lucerne during the invasion of the Tuileries, and he wished to have a memorial for his dead comrades.
Afterwards my Dad and I went down to the Chapel Bridge and the Water Tower.
The Chapel Bridge and Water Tower were built in the 14th century. The bridge served as a rampart, as well as part of the town fortification. Originally 285 metres long, the bridge was shortened several times during the 19 century. Water Tower served as a dungeon, archive and treasury vault.
In the 17th century the Chapel Bridge was adorned with a set of painted. The triangular panels were designed by town secretary Renward Cysat, a universal scholar, and painted in Renaissance style by Hans Heinrich Wagmann. The series of painting depict the development of the city and republic of Lucerne from a Counter-Reformation point of view. Other pictures portray the life and suffering of the town’s two patron saints, St. Leodegar and St. Mauritius.
During the night of 17th August 1993, a fire broke out on the Chapel bridge, burning 81 of the 111 bridge paintings. The paintings on both bridge heads escaped damages by the blaze.
The paintings on the bridge heads are the originals. In the middle of the bridge from the St. Mauritius series can be seen. These had been removed in the 19 century when the bridge was shortened during the construction of the quays on the north and south end.
The gap remaining between the paintings serves as a reminder of the irreparable loss to the bridge- and for the city of Lucerne- caused by the blaze on the night of 17th August 1993.
Next was dinner followed by a 20 minute bus ride to the Lucerne Ibis Hotel, where I’ll be staying for 2 nights.
So jealous much, Cynthia?
