Heidelberg Events
Wine, fine dining and music on Karlsplatz
This year the 6th Heidelberg Wine Village invites you to the Old Town from 1 to 18 October
Heidelberger Weindorf, Abendstimmung © Heidelberg Marketing, photo: Tobias Schwerdt
In the heart of the Old Town, at the foot of Heidelberg Castle, the Wine Village – now in its sixth year – brings together Heidelberg wine, regional cuisine and music on Karlsplatz. For 18 days, the stalls invite visitors to sample, savour and chat with Heidelberg’s winegrowers. It is open Monday to Thursday from 12 noon to 9 pm and Friday to Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm. On the opening day, the Wine Village opens at 3 pm, with the official opening following at 5 pm.
Heidelberg’s Bauer, Clauer, Winter and Clauer du Chant wineries will be taking part. Heidelberg’s French twin town, Montpellier, will also be presenting wines from its region, thereby celebrating the 65-year-old town twinning in style. The range is complemented by a selection of non-alcoholic wines.
The Wine Village will once again feature its specially designed collector’s wine glass in 2026. There will be a first for the wine spritzer: it will be served in Heidelberg ‘Dubbe’ glasses for the very first time. ‘Tischlein deck Dich’ will provide the culinary accompaniment with regional dishes, prepared mainly from local produce and paired to complement the wine selection.
Music amidst wine and views of the castle across all three weekends.
Singer-songwriter Andy Wilsing kicks things off on 2 October from 5 pm to 9 pm. With his distinctive voice and guitar, he performs rock and pop classics from the 1970s to the present day. On 3 October, Robin Darpe & Robin Pföhler will be providing rock sounds from 6 pm to 10 pm. The Red Hot Dixie Devils will be bringing Dixieland, swing, blues and evergreens to Karlsplatz on 4 October from 3 pm to 6 pm.
On the second weekend, Andy Wilsing will be performing again on 9 October from 5 pm to 9 pm. On 10 October, Streetfish will be on stage from 6 pm to 10 pm playing well-known rock and pop classics. The following day, the Red Hot Dixie Devils will take over from 3 pm to 6 pm, providing the musical backdrop for a Sunday afternoon with their varied repertoire.
The rock vibe continues into the final weekend: Dennis Wilke & Robin Pföhler will be playing on 16 October from 5 pm to 9 pm, followed by Matthew Fisher & Robin Pföhler on 17 October from 6 pm to 10 pm. The Red Hot Dixie Devils will once again bring the festival to a musical close on 18 October from 3 pm to 6 pm.
The official opening of the 6th Heidelberg Wine Village will take place on Thursday, 1 October 2026, at 5 pm, attended by Mathias Schiemer, Managing Director of Heidelberg Marketing GmbH and Heidelberger Kultur- und Kongressgesellschaft mbH, the Heidelberg Wine Queen Larissa Leonhard, members of the local council and, of course, Perkeo, the legendary guardian of the Great Barrel.
Anyone wishing to take some Heidelberg wine home or give it as a gift will once again find the ‘Heidelberger Dreiklang’ this year. This gift set combines one bottle each of selected wines from the Bauer, Clauer and Winter wineries. ‘The Heidelberger Dreiklang brings together three of our wineries in a single gift, thereby showcasing a piece of Heidelberg’s wine culture,’ says Mathias Schiemer.
Discover Heidelberg in Air-Conditioned Comfort
Discover Heidelberg easily and comfortably by bus. © Heidelberg Marketing, photo: Tobias Schwerdt
On a public sightseeing tour including a guided visit to Heidelberg Castle, visitors can discover Heidelberg and its famous castle ruins in a relaxed, impressive and, above all, air-conditioned way. Accompanied by an experienced tour guide, participants explore the city’s most beautiful corners on a journey through different districts, into the Neckar Valley, while enjoying fascinating stories about Heidelberg, told by a tour guide.
The tour continues with a walk through the romantic Stückegarten, the historic castle courtyard and past the Great Barrel, ending at the picturesque castle terrace with magnificent views over Heidelberg and, hopefully, a refreshing breeze reaching as far as the Rhine Plain. The funicular railway then takes participants comfortably back down to the Old Town.
The two-hour tour is offered in German on Fridays and Saturdays (except on 26 September 2026). The meeting point is the information board at the bus stop on Neckarmünzplatz.
Further Information & tickets »
Cholud Kassem – Under the Protection of Ritual
Exhibition poster for Cholud Kassem – Under the Protection of Ritual
As part of the exhibition series Retrospectives of Heidelberg Artists, the City of Heidelberg is presenting a solo exhibition by artist Cholud Kassem (*1956) at the Kurpfälzisches Museum from 1 August to 13 September 2026.
Kassem has lived and worked as an independent artist in Heidelberg since 1997. Her works are characterised by a clear and distinctive visual language that runs consistently throughout her different series.
In her work, Kassem combines aesthetic concerns with personal experiences and memories. Born in Iraq and raised in Germany, her life journey continues to provide new inspiration for her artistic practice. The exhibition features paintings, ceramic objects and video works spanning from the early 1990s to the present day. Guided tours of the exhibition with the artist will take place on 9 August and 6 September 2026.
Newly opened: The 3D TrickArt Museum Heidelberg
A new museum in Heidelberg: the 3D TrickArt Museum © LA.MAG
Visitors to Heidelberg will know the Old Bridge as one of the city’s most iconic photo spots. Now, another striking image is drawing attention: a dramatic showdown with the film monster Godzilla on the Old Bridge, spectacularly staged at the new 3D TrickArt Museum Heidelberg.
Within walking distance of the Old Town, 30 permanently installed 3D artworks by Japanese artist Masashi Hattori invite visitors of all ages to explore and interact. The paintings – some featuring spectacular Heidelberg motifs – are designed to come to life through the lens of a camera.
By standing on marked spots, visitors become part of the illusion, creating impressive and playful photo moments. An interactive experience for families, friends, school groups, and anyone who enjoys creative photography.
The new Valerieweg footbridge
The newly reconstructed Valeriewegsteg in Heidelberg © Heidelberg Marketing, photo Eva Bruce
After extensive construction work, the Valeriewegsteg near the historic Altes Karlstorbahnhof in Heidelberg’s Old Town has been completely rebuilt and is now open to the public.
This pedestrian bridge, which connects Heidelberg’s Old Town railway station with the Valerieweg and the Königstuhl hill, has been reconstructed to match the original. It now shines in new splendor and stands as a successful example of how tradition and modern infrastructure blend into Heidelberg’s cityscape.
Crossing the bridge takes visitors onto the Valerieweg, following in the footsteps of Valerie, daughter of Austrian Empress Elisabeth (“Sissi”). The path winds its way past rugged granite cliffs, leading uphill to the Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg, where it meets the Elisabethenweg.
Empress Elisabeth and her daughter Valerie visited Heidelberg several times for extended stays between 1883 and 1890.
Did you know …
… that a hiking adventure begins right in Heidelberg?
Breathtaking views along the Neckarsteig © TG Odenwald
If you are looking to set off on a multi-day hiking adventure, you can start right here in Heidelberg: the Neckarsteig begins in the heart of the city and winds its way for around 127 kilometers to Bad Wimpfen. Right from the start, the trail leads past Heidelberg Castle and up to the King’s Chair mountain (Königstuhl) before continuing on to Neckargemünd. Over nine stages, hikers encounter castles and palaces, peaceful forests, impressive gorges, vineyards and ever-changing views of the Neckar.
And there is even more to discover along the way: the free „Zeigmal app“ has recently turned this certified quality hiking trail into an exciting journey through time. At 68 stops along the route, audio features, historical images and background information tell the stories of the places and people along the way. Augmented reality even brings the past back to life.
In this way, the Neckarsteig combines nature, the joy of hiking and history in a whole new way.
Did you know …
…what the “Hackteufel” is?
Romantic Steingasse, home to the Hackteufel restaurant © Heidelberg Marketing, photo by Philipp Rothe
As the story goes, one Pentecost the devil came to the Neckar valley in search of souls. Standing on a rock by the river, he delivered his Pentecost sermon and promised the people along the banks abundant catches of fish and protection from flooding. Curious, some Heidelberg residents climbed up the rocky path. But then the bells of the Church of the Holy Spirit rang out through the valley: “Don’t believe him… don’t believe him…!” – and the people climbed into their rafts and set off for church instead.
Enraged, the devil hurled boulders after them, which came to rest in the riverbed. To this day, the resulting dangerous shallow between the lock and the Old Bridge is known as the “Hackteufel.”
The name “Hackteufel” was later given to an inn in Steingasse.
Did you know …
… that the Bunsen burner was invented in Heidelberg?
Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen, born on March 30, 1811 in Göttingen, died on August 16, 1899 in Heidelberg, was a German chemist. Together with Gustav Robert Kirchhoff, he discovered caesium and rubidium in 1861 and developed spectral analysis, which can be used to detect chemical elements in a highly specific manner. For this purpose, Bunsen perfected a particular gas torch, which had previously been invented by Michael Faraday and would later be called the Bunsen burner. During his time at the University of Heidelberg, Bunsen taught well over 3,000 students. In his honor, a statue was erected in the anatomy garden.
You can even take a Bunsen tour of Heidelberg.
One of his students was the chemist Henry Roscoe. About Robert Bunsen, he said: “As an investigator, he was great. As a teacher, even greater. As a man and friend, he was greatest.”
Did you know …
Charles Francois de Graimberg (1774 – 1864) in a portrait by Guido Schmitt, 1902 © Kurpfälzisches Museum Heidelberg
… that a Frenchman, Charles de Graimberg, saved the Heidelberg Castle ruins?
Charles de Graimberg came to Heidelberg in 1810 to make copperplate engravings of the castle ruins and the town – and remained in Heidelberg until his death in 1864. Back then, he was shocked to discover that the people of Heidelberg were using the ruins as a quarry for their houses and the castle garden as a potato field. Furthermore, a contract had already been signed with a demolition company.
He campaigned for the preservation of the ruins with personal commitment and his own money, paid guards, even took up residence in the castle and his copperplate engravings made Heidelberg known to a broad public. He was successful.
And so, thanks to Charles de Graimberg, we can still marvel at this world-famous symbol of Romanticism today.
Did you know …
The Heidelberg Town Hall carillon was inaugurated in 1961 © City of Heidelberg
… that Heidelberg’s Town Hall has its own carillon?
The carillon at Heidelberg’s Town Hall is one of the city’s most charming landmarks – a musical symbol and a living piece of local history. Made up of 26 finely cast bronze bells from the renowned Schilling Bell Foundry in Heidelberg, the carillon has been enchanting the Old Town for over 60 years with its distinctive sound.
It was officially inaugurated on 10 December 1961, and since then, it has played a three-minute melody three times a day – at 11:55 a.m., 3:55 p.m., and 6:55 p.m. With a selection of around 50 programmed tunes across five seasonal and thematic categories – summer, Advent, Christmas, „secular“, and a May programme – the carillon is a musical companion throughout the year.
The largest bell weighs 60 kilograms and lays the foundation for the melodies, while the full set of bells together weighs a solid 800 kilograms.
Did you know …
The founding document of Heidelberg University from 1386 © Photo by Steffen Schmid
… that the founding document of Heidelberg University is still preserved?
Prince Elector Rupert I founded Heidelberg University in 1386. He established it with papal approval in his residence city. The founding rector was the Dutchman Marsilius von Inghen, who came to Heidelberg from the University of Paris.
It is now the oldest university in Germany and, at the time, was the third university in the Holy Roman Empire, after Prague and Vienna – but unlike the other two, it was already a full university with faculties of medicine, law, theology, and philosophy.
The founding document, dated October 01, 1386, specified that the new university should be organized after the model of Paris. It has been preserved to this day and is one of the treasures of the University of Heidelberg’s archive.
Did you know …
… that Heidelberg is the most sustainable city in Germany?
The latest city ranking by business magazine WirtschaftsWoche concludes that Heidelberg is the most sustainable and future-oriented city in Germany.
Among other things, Heidelberg impresses with its passive house district Bahnstadt, the new energy storage facility in Pfaffengrund and the lowest youth unemployment rate.
Furthermore, the ranking highlights the high value that science and research, education and training have for Heidelberg. Every fifth euro in the city’s budget is invested for the benefit of children and young people, and around 70% of employees in Heidelberg work in knowledge-intensive services.