A trip to Heidelberg to live the magic Christmas atmosphere of Bavaria, Germany

We all decided months in advance, as our usual
- studied the route on the Help Mondadori Germany;
- booked a Lufthansa flight, Stuttgart-Malpensa, via Edreams;
- booked the hotel: one with Venus and the other (Romantik Hotel) directly at the hotel;
- book your Hertz car on the site requiring snow equipment;
- reserved parking - Parking Malpensa.
We've been several times in Germany, the Christmas markets. but every time we go to ever-changing city. This time, it seemed very interesting to this particular area (Heidelberg and Schwäbisch Hall).

 

Heidelberg

We wake up early enough and we reach the car park near to Malpensa (Parking), where the practices and quickly hurry, always fast, the bus brings us to the airport.
The Lufthansa check-in is already open and so we get rid of baggage quickly. Unfortunately, the Lufthansa flight was delayed for half an hour. We expected a better punctuality from a national airline with scheduled flight (usually use low cost and where delays are the order of the day). Instead, Lufthansa has disappointed us falling behind in both outward and return snacks on board and giving us really ridiculous (finger unidentified cereals like Slimfast).
However, we arrive at the airport of Stuttgart where we deliver the suitcases at supersonic speed and just as quickly hurry practices for the collection of the car to Hertz. We booked a car, asking for the extra snow tires, since the winter and the northern half of our trip.
With our fairly comfortable Hyundai (can not remember the model) we headed towards the first goal: the palace of Bruchsal. This is the residence of the Prince Bishops of Speyer. Here you can visit the state apartments (very little salt) and the museum of music, with a rich collection of bodies is the most interesting part of the visit.
We decide to have lunch in Bruchsal, based on pretzels and cheese cake, settling into a nice bakery with tables near the palace.
Let then Bruchsal towards Heidelberg, where he will spend the night.
The journey is short but we find it difficult to reach our Hackteufel Hotel, located in the historic center but, alas, in the pedestrian zone. Here is the problem of luggage and bring us quickly to the front desk trying to figure out where the hell is the parking. Unfortunately, we understand that the garage is located a few hundred meters, with some difficulty to pick up the car keys. In fact, the next morning, we will have some difficulty opening the garage because little functional keys and summary explanations.
The hotel, however, is very characteristic and is located above the restaurant is also open to external customers. In fact, we find it difficult to book a table for dinner. We can only make up a table with the promise of freeing the same before 19.30.
The room is quite big, with everything needed, even if the decor is rather ordinary and not very characteristic.
We go now to visit the many Christmas markets, located in different streets and squares, but all linked together. In fact, the stands are really a lot and, from these, we add many fine shops located in the main streets of the city's historic center.
In particular, we point out, the Käthe Wohlfahrt store chain. It's quaint shops of decorations and Christmas items, found in most typical German cities, open all year. Detail is the same decor and the location of outlets: very attractive! Do not get out of there without buying something!
However, Heidelberg is a beautiful city with great old town, beautiful buildings, beautiful bridges along the river with. At the top of the castle, which towers over the city, however, we have not visited, due to difficulties in reaching the same view of the lack of clear signs for the right entry point.
We have dinner early in the restaurant of our hotel: the dinner is very good (traditional German), the atmosphere is pleasant, the prices a bit 'high.

Schwabisch Hall

Quite abundant breakfast buffet and then leave for Mannheim, where we visit the baroque castle. Mannheim had not imagined that a city so big, so modern and so messy. We do not like. We struggle to find a parking space. We have to settle for a 1 hour maximum parking time, even if just in front of the building. The palace is the residence of the Prince of the Palatinate, is immense but, unfortunately, if they visit a small part because the rest is used as a university. However, the part we like to visit enough. In Mannheim, there is also a great Christmas market, but we decided not to stop because we have other stages during the day and also would never find a parking space nearby.
Next stop is the castle of Schwetzingen. Unfortunately, here we are disappointed because, although the castle is "open" is open only to guided tours and in the afternoon. We can not wait all those hours in Schwetzingen, as the city is very interesting and the market is reduced to a minimum. After a quick tour of the old and the small Christmas market, it leaves to head Schwetzingen Schwäbisch Hall where he will spend the night.
First we reach our hotel: Romantik Hotel Der Adelshof, which we find very easily, with ample parking behind the hotel itself. This is a fantastic hotel, like all the hotels of the Romantik Hotel. We have stayed in many hotels of this group and we were never disappointed. As the word itself is very romantic hotel, furnished with taste sublime. These hotels are not only in Germany but in several European countries including Italy.
The room is spectacular, it is not just a room but a family suite with four poster bed and extra bed, canopy, but always placed in an attractive niche. It is Amazing! However, we do not understand why we are the only guests. I will be the price too expensive? But no ... average price ... medium / high, but nothing more. Perhaps because Schwäbisch Hall is a German city under attack by mass tourism (that of the markets). Yet it is a fairytale village, one of the most beautiful countries I've visited in Germany. The extensive historic city center is a succession of squares with a beautiful half-timbered houses. But the most striking is the long river. Here the river forms a small island connected to the small scenic village with wooden covered bridges. Too bad that rain today and so our pictures may not be up to 100% and appreciate the scenery.
However, the place deserves. Unfortunately, the two Christmas markets (a curio and a food and drinks) are too small compared to other previously visited. However, there are many shops.
We eat the typical sausage sandwich at the market followed by a sweet Waffel cream and nutella. It can never fail, as in every market visited, the hot drink in the cup of a typical marketplace of the city to feed our collection of cups markets (by now they already possess several, and only in this last trip, I collect as many as 3). E 'possible to drink the traditional hot wine (Glühwein), but, for the abstainers as the undersigned (or children) you can drink in the cup apple juice or orange, always hot (or Apfelsaft Orangensaft).
In the late afternoon, after visiting the country, including the beautiful area of the river, back to the hotel where there is a small wellness area. This is a small center with a sauna and a few other things, however, very well equipped. Obviously we are the guests of the spa area together so we do everything in freedom.
For dinner we chose a restaurant not far away. At the entrance we find a greek restaurant / German: menus only in German and of course the waiter does not speak English. We are looking for some way to explain that we just want a simple steak with fried potatoes. To choose a sweet crepe with ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate. Fixed-price low, but unfortunately they do not accept credit cards.
After dinner take a short walk in the city center, but there is hardly a soul around. Furthermore it is raining and so we decide to go back to appreciate the comforts of our hotel.

Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg and back

At breakfast we are the only people in the beautiful breakfast room and the only ones to take advantage of the average buffet.
After that we start in direction Heilbronn. The trip is short and we arrive too soon. We therefore await with patience the opening of markets due to start at 11.00. The city is not interesting, too modern, perhaps rebuilt after the war, but the market is big enough.
In the meantime visit the old Gothic church, with a characteristic pulpit.
It 's still early to return to the airport. So we decide to make a stop in Ludwigsburg which is our road to the airport in Stuttgart. We have already visited Ludwigsburg few years ago '. Then we visited the beautiful castle, but the wide and articulated clearly remember the Christmas market. Then we travel the length and breadth of the beautiful square of Ludwigsburg from the pretty wooden houses of the marketplace. Now we have nearly completed our purchases, however, buy a really giant pretzels to take to Italy and choose something for lunch. The choice falls on an original frittellona called Langus (or something like that), served by choosing the filling. We opt for the pancake with ham and cheese. Given that we really like, also decide to take one at the end of the meal, topped with Nutella.
We smeared all but we are happy.
It comes time to head calmly to the airport to return our rental car. We do everything quickly and without problems.
Check-in is already open so we start the procedures for boarding.
Unfortunately, once again, the flight was delayed. Reason: ice on the wings of the plane from London. We see, when we are already on board, brand new stage for us to spray hot water on the wings to defrost.
Score: 1 hour late.
After landing at Malpensa, strangely operations bags are super-fast delivery (miracolo!). Even the shuttle bus parking is already there before us, without even having to call back and so quickly at home.
Goodbye markets, next year, as has become tradition over ten years. But always in different cities!
Dani & C.
COST:
Lufthansa flight to / r: about € 110.00 per head
Malpensa Airport Parking Car parking: € 21,00 for 3 days (short)
Hertz Car Rental: € 166.00 for 3 days with snow tires
Average price hotel room, family room with breakfast and parking: € 180.00
Average price dinner: € 20.00 per person
Average price castles entrance: € 5.00 per person