Background

The Philosophers' Walk

Who really strolled here, who the path owes its name to, and why it is probably the finest scenic walk in Germany.

Not a path for philosophers

The name misleads. The Philosophers' Walk is not named after Kant or Hegel - Hegel did teach in Heidelberg for two years, but the path already carried the name. In a university town, philosophers was simply the colloquial word for students of the faculty of philosophy, and this is where they walked undisturbed.

The route itself is far older: for centuries it was the access track to the vineyards and gardens on the southern slope of the Heiligenberg.

The warmest slope in town

The south-facing hillside traps heat and is sheltered from northerly winds, producing a microclimate where figs, almonds, lemons and bamboo grow - plants you would not expect on the Neckar.

That makes spring the best time to walk it, and a summer afternoon the worst: there is almost no shade.

The round trip worth doing

The classic route starts at the Old Bridge, climbs the steep Schlangenweg, follows the Philosophers' Walk westwards and comes back down past the Hirschgasse or the Bismarck tower. Around an hour of walking; sturdy shoes help, as the Schlangenweg is cobbled and steep.

From the top you get the postcard view that made the city's reputation - Old Town, Old Bridge, Church of the Holy Spirit and the castle above.