And a multimedia town boasting large publishing houses and software giants. The German Academy of Sciences and the Center for Jewish Studies are based here, as are the German Cancer Research Center, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, five facilities of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, and more than 30 schools for language and management training. The city also shares its expertise with guests from around the world. Browse the shops on Main Street Germany s longest pedestrian zone and dive into the cozy side streets of the Old Town with their many fascinating shops. Peruse the stores and bars on Untere Strasse, around the Church of the Holy Spirit, and in the long street called Pl ck .
Subtropical plants thrive along the southerly slopes it meanders through.
K nigstuhl, the mountain on the opposite side of the Neckar River, is another excellent place to hike. Take the historical funicular train to the top for a ride you ll never forget. Or take an excursion to attractive nearby towns and areas such as Speyer and Schwetzingen, the Bergstrasse, the Castle Road up the Neckar Valley, the German Wine Road in the Palatinate across the Rhine Valley, or the hilly Odenwald region. One in five residents is a student. This makes Heidelberg one of Germany s youngest cities.