HEIDELBERG, Germany

Heidelberg is nestled in the wooded valley of the Neckar River. The town survived largely unscathed from World War II and has preserved its Renaissance Baroque character. Nine arches of the Alte Brűcke (Old Bridge) span the Neckar. In the Old Town is the Late Gothic Church of the Holy Spirit, built from locally quarried red sandstone. There are also the Knight’s House, an elegant 16^th century mansion representative of the Germany Mannerist style and the austere façade of the 18^th century Jesuit Church, which belies a lavishly adorned interior. Heidelberg Castle built on a neighboring hill once was the residence of the Counts Palatine of the Holy Roman Empire. Damaged during the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) and a subsequent French invasion, the stately ruins preserve Heidelberg’s links to its medieval past. [see Photos]