Surroundings, Heidelberg

7km/4.5mi east of Heidelberg rises the Königstuhl (568 m/1,864ft; funicular), with an 82 m/269ft high television tower. There are extensive views of the Rhine plain, Neckar valley and Odenwald.

Southeast of Heidelberg is Mauer (reached by way of Neckargemünd), where Heidelberg Man was discovered. There is a Prehistoric Museum.

12km/7.5mi west of Heidelberg, in the Rhine plain, is Schwetzingen, famed as a center of asparagus-growing. It has an 18th C. palace, Schloss Schwetzingen, which was a summer residence of the Electors of the Palatinate (concerts in summer). The Schlossgarten (73 hectares/180 acres), laid out partly in the French and partly in the English style, contains a number of 18th C. buildings (including a Roccoco theater by Nicolas de Pigage, 1746-52; festival performances) and works of sculpture.A more modern feature of Schwetzingen is the Bellamar bathing center (whirlpool, flume, sauna, solarium, games rooms, etc.).

Hockenheim, a few kilometers south of Schwetzingen, is famed for its Grand Prix racing circuit (Motodrom). There is a Motor Sport Museum, with many motorcycles and racing cars, a multi-media show and a collection of documents. At Obere Hauptstrasse 8, in the town center, is a Tobacco Museum. Also in the town is the Aquadrom swimming pool.

The town of Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, has preserved part of its medieval walls. In the old town are the Old Town Hall (1554) and historic old half-timbered houses. Higher up is Schloss Berckheim, set in a beautiful park.Above the town are the ruins of Burg Windeck (12th-13th C.; view). Still higher up is the Wachenburg (1913).