Stop for a pint in Heidelberg, where its student pubs serve beer in giant boot or horn-shaped mugs. Heidelberg (pop 141,000) is Germany’s oldest University City founded in 1386 and its majestic towering red sandstone castle, which overlooks the red roofs of the town, has since had a romantic appeal to artists, poets and writers.

Dominated by its magnificent castle the town is and always was world-renowned and a crowd-puller especially for visitors from abroad. Regardless of that it oozes history and as early as 1386 the first German university was founded here. Heidelberg, the home town of Queen Silvia of Sweden, is far and away one of the most visited towns in Germany. Heidelberg is associated with student life, picturesque side streets, quiet pubs, antique shops tucked away in back streets, small galleries and, needless to say, Heidelberg Castle. Crooked alleyways, renaissance and baroque façades and cozy squares shape the appearance of the Old Quarter of Heidelberg. The best way to see Heidelberg is to participate in an organized walk around the Old Quarter, a trip on the Neckar or to go exploring by bike. Behind the romantic backdrop, Heidelberg is committed to society's key issues. Science and research are very important in this town with the oldest university in Germany, in particular life sciences, environmental research and technology. You won't be surprised to learn that Heidelberg, with its wealth of university lecture halls and the magnificent, Art Nouveau-style Congress House, is an ideal and popular venue for international congresses and symposia. Heidelberg, a forward-looking town in a romantic setting.