Schwabisch Hall Germany

Travelled:80km

Stay:Schwabisch Hall - free motorhome parking N49.1225 E9.7344

We started the day with a walk around the centre of Sinsheim.

We then drove to Schwabisch Hall which has a great number of historic buildings from various periods including half-timbered and baroque town houses. 

St.Michael church looked impressive on the high side of the Marktplatz.

We popped into Schuhbaeck Restaurant for lunch. 

Then continued exploring the beautiful town on the Kocher River. 

Later we found a nice shady spot in the beer garden and enjoyed a pleasant afternoon.

We then saw a bit more of the town as we ventured back to our parking spot for the night.

Heidelberg Germany

Travelled:223km

Stay:Sinsheim Germany- Stellplatz parking €9/24hr, service point N49.2498 E8.8791

Visited:Heidelberg Germany

The 1:40hrs drive this morning to Heidelberg turned into 2:30hrs due to road works slowing the traffic down and that realistically we drive slower than the gps as we don’t drive to the 130km/hr speed limits on the autobahn. Then we had the issue of finding parking and being 2 of us, doubly hard. As we ventured away from the alstade we did manage to find 2 spots near each other and so decided to walk 30mins back to the alstade. Then we remembered the TripGo app and found a few public transport options that would save our legs to explore the old town instead. 

Heidelberg is situated on the Neckar River and Germany’s first university was established here. Tram 22 deposited us just where the pedestrian zone for the old town begins and we walked up the main street to Marktplatz where the huge red sandstone gothic church towers over the town square.

 We took a sharp left and had lunch at the local brewery. 

We then strolled over the Alte Brucke, the 18thC old bridge with its lovely medieval gate that is currently under renovation. From here we could admire the castle ruins up on the hill. 

We promptly walked back through Marktplatz which used to be the site of executions and the burning of witches and heretics. 

We then rode the Bergbahn funicular to the castle (€7ea return incl castle entry). 

The castle was once a well fortified gothic building that is now mostly in ruins being destroyed by the French during the Thirty Year War. From here we were afforded a beautiful view of Heidelberg.

 We then wondered around admiring the Friedrichsbau palace facade and made our way down to the giant wine barrel.  

Before leaving we walked through the Apothekenmuseum which had many rooms filled with pharmacy equipment which was all owned by a chemical company.

We returned to the old town and made our way to the Christmas shop before taking the bus back to the motorhomes. 

As the overnight options were limited here we drove 40km to Sinsheim where we rested in the shade of the motorhomes.