Travel to Baden-Württemberg in Germany – Episode 559

Hear about travel to the German state of Baden-Württemberg as the Amateur Traveler, Chris Christensen, talks about his recent press trip there to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the bicycle.

I was just in Mannheim, Schwetzingen, Heidelberg, and Karlsruhe on a biking based trip to celebrate 200 years since the inventor of the first bike Karl Drais set out from Mannheim to Schwetzingen. He only made it 7 km before turning back, but we had advantages over him like pedals, rubber tires, GPS, and two different German bike routes.

Mannheim was also later where Karl Benz invented the first automobile, which looks more like a 3 wheeled motorized bike. We visited the Technoseum in Mannheim which celebrates these inventions and others.

We took a bike tour of Mannheim which included a ride by the lovely Luisenpark, the palace of the Wittelsbachs (2nd largest baroque palace in Europe), the Jesuit church, and a stop at Eis Fontanella for another Mannheim invention, spaghetti ice.

In Schwetzingen, we visited the summer palace of the prince-electors, with its beautiful and extensive gardens.

We visited the ruins of the castle in Heidelberg, the university library, and the old student prison.

Karlsruhe is the birthplace of both Karls Drais and Karl Benz. It was built as a planned city in the shape of a fan and Thomas Jefferson was so impressed by its design that he sent sketches of the city to the designer of Washington D.C.

These 4 cities in Baden-Württemberg make for a great smaller vacation or the start of a larger one. After visiting them, you could continue along the Burgenstrasse to see other castles, palaces, and walled towns. Or you could continue to head south into the Black Forest or east into France. Come see why these 4 cities have much to offer tourists, whether or not you are on a bike.

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Show Notes

Baden-Württemberg
Frankfurt Airport Train Station
Leonardo Royal Hotel Mannheim
Luisenpark Mannheim
TECHNOSEUM
Karl Drais
Karl Benz
House of Wittelsbach
Eis Fontanella
Burgenstrasse
Manheim Castles and Palaces
Schwetzingen Castles and Palaces
Heidelberg Castles and Palaces
Martin Griffiths – Tour Guide
Frederick V of the Palatinate
Heidelberg Castle
Karlsruhe Tourism
Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe ZKM
Tübingen
Baden Baden
Oberlaender Weinstube – Restaurant
Hoepfner Burghof – Restaurant
Der Europaische Hof Heidelberg – Hotel
Hotel Eden – Karlsruhe
Roter Ochsen (Red Ox) – Restaurant in Heidelberg
Photos of Mannheim
Photos of Schwetzingen
Photos of Heidelberg
Photos of Karlsruhe

Community

on Travel to the Sea Islands of Georgia and South Carolina – Episode 557 Cindy wrote:

Just finished listening to Ruby and Peter talk about the Sea Islands. What a pleasure! They were fun to listen to and had great information – especially for people like me who don’t often plan very far ahead! I’ve wanted to get to the Sea Islands for a long time without knowing much about them. I am now so much better informed about the islands and how to plan a trip and even more interested in doing so. Thanks for another great show.

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