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The Neckar is the lifeblood of the city

Heidelberg – City on the river

The Neckar is the lifeblood of the city

Folksongs, famous paintings and countless entries in Heidelberg’s guest books prove it: The Neckar is the lifeblood of the city. On its 367 km journey from its source to its mouth, the river shapes large stretches of the countryside. However, the best known section of the river lies in front of Heidelberg’s Old Town. The view from the Philosophenweg (Philosophers’ Walk) across the Neckar to the Castle and the Old Town – made so famous in millions of travel guides, picture books and vacation photos –shows: The Neckar and Heidelberg belong indivisibly together. Precisely at this junction with the Neckar in the heart of the old Town lies the historic Kongresshaus Stadthalle (Convention Center) with its rooms for events and conferences. In the coming years it is to be expanded into a modern conference center, in order to make Heidelberg even more attractive as the place for international gettogethers to be held.

In front of the Convention Center the traditional “Weisse Flotte” of the Rhein- Neckar passenger ship company has been offering excursions to the picturesque Neckar valley for several generations. A trip on the silently gliding solar-powered ship “Neckarsonne” is another way to take in the sights. Sailing boats can be admired in the yacht harbor, and on the north bank of the river electric or paddle boats can be rented. The Neckarwiese (Neckar banks), or Neckar Park, is a welcome destination all year round for many different sports and recreational activities – or simply for relaxing.

But the Neckar is also an important natural force, providing energy to tens of thousands. The five hydroelectric power stations near Heidelberg provide 14.2 megawatts of all-important green energy to the city each year. And all the potential benefits of the shared life of city and river have yet to be exhausted. That is why Heidelberg has a vision: “City on the river” is the title of the project now currently under development. National highway 37, which until now has separated the Old Town and the Neckar from each other, is to be routed through a tunnel along the bank of the Neckar, to make room for a riverside promenade. In this way city and river would grow back together again and additional space and quality of life be created.

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