The castle & surrounding community are gorgeous. Worth a look for sure…read more There is a funicular to get you from town to the castle - save you the hike. Can't add more than the rave reviews of others. It's cool. You won't regret it. Couple of restaurants up at the castle too, so a snack if you need.

Wow. The castle is stunning!!!! Our daughter lives in the area and we decided to walked up to the…read morecastle when we visited. It is steep walk up but very doable. It took us less than 10 min to get to the top. The grounds where buzzing with tourists but even tho there where a lot of people it didn't feel crowded. We walked around the grounds for a while and I honestly couldn't get enough of the view! It is out of this world-- it is overlooking beautiful, historic Heidelberg and Neckar river!!! To get the whole experience we opted to tour the ruins and castle courtyard. The 11Euro to go inside the castle is totally worth it. The giant wine barrel in one part of the castle is insane-- it is so big that the is even a dance floor on top of it! Overall, an unforgettable experience and a must-see if you're in the area!

Big spire with a statue on it in the middle of a busy shopping area. I guess it's kind of neat, but…read moresomewhat pointless. Every time I make my way to the Luisenplatz I forget it is there. The area surrounding is fun to walk around though.

This is my favorite place in Darmstadt! The garden design and the buildings around it are elegant…read moreand beautiful! As you walk thru you will realize that this garden holds it's own surprises... the sundials, the water features, and the historically painted library building that is a 'bring one-take one' lending library. This is not the only feature that is 'community-minded', the garden is planted with flowers and organic veggies that can be purchased at local stands. The dwarf apple trees were loaded with apples! Awesome garden and more awesome library! Also the other building is the Porcelain Museum that has lovely statues and dinnerware that belonged to the local rulers.

The German word "Schloss" is very efficient. It can mean castle, palace, chateau and even…read more"padlock." This can be confusing when you're looking for old castles to explore and wind up at what is more accurately described as a large manor. When I arrived at Schwetzingen Schloss I was surprised that it wasn't more of a castle, but it's vast, beautiful landscape and interesting history made me glad I had come. Like most old buildings and grand constructions, Schwetzigen Schloss started as a place to entertain the constituents of a rich, influential man. The striking statues, winding paths and ornate buildings really make it hard to not be impressed. I imagine arriving here from a smaller village in Germany, unable to even see the other side of the enormous garden. There are a few different buildings which each had their own purpose, which through the years had changed. My favorite was the Orangerie, a tropical greenhouse of sorts. The ingenuity of these past Germans will surprise you, and their method to produce an Orange where an Orange has no business growing is really something. Wandering in between buildings you may find yourself enjoying the journey at least as much as the destination. I found many little "dead ends" which were so comfortable it was hard not to take out a book and enjoy the serenity for a while. Symmetry is the name of the game here, and I encourage you to stop at every intersection and look around. You'll likely notice that someone paid very close attention to angles and lines. This makes for a remarkably sane experience as you are almost unable to get lost. The buildings are beautiful, but you might find yourself unable to break away from the calm water, cozy paths, and enveloping nature. I went during Fall. The skies were grey and it was chilly. I know I'm in the minority here but I absolutely recommend you do the same. The colors were indescribably vivid and the calmness of the environment was only enhanced by my girlfriend and I finding ourselves alone more often than not. Usually, most people want to come when it's nice out. (We actually tried to, but it turned into a classic Fall day which, just like the "Schloss", was a surprise that turned out alright) While there is an English brochure available at the beginning which has a handy map, every display I came across had only German writing. Keep that in mind if you aren't with someone who can translate for you, or if your girlfriend doesn't want to read every single sign Luke we have to go it's been 3 hours I don't want to read about Oranges any more. Schwetzingen Schloss isn't a castle, but it's absolutely incredible.

I enjoyed my time here very much. I usually prefer to be outdoors, in a sculpture garden or…read morehiking, not so much in a museum. Unless there is something special that sets it apart from the usual modern art/portrait/natural history type of experience. I was ready to be inside and warm, and I was ready to see something new, so the Film Museum seemed like a good choice. There are several floors of exhibits spanning the history of moving images. From the very first to the very recent, I was delighted with the interactive exhibits and tidbits of information I gleaned while walking around. Special appreciation goes to the team that made the montage of film clips that I saw on the upper floor. That took a lot of work - it flowed together and had theme, the sound turned up on one of several scenes that might be taking place at any given moment on the wrap around screens. Truly, great job. Likewise with the Ardman montage - I simply couldn't stop watching. Speaking of which, the collection up there was wonderful. I loved seeing the clay models, and the sets with all the small props. I especially liked the characters that were on the walls - these should have been for sale! If they had been I'd have several sheep in my living room right this minute. If you're like me and you only wander in from outside when there is something out of the ordinary to see, then let yourself wander here.

I only spent half a day in Frankfurt but of course this movie geek had to visit the Deutsches…read moreFilmmuseum for the majority of my few hours in the city -- and it was worth every second! This isn't the best museum I've ever been to, but there are some pretty sweet pieces here that earn the museum a 5 star rating: 1. there's the original CINEMA sign that was used in "Inglourious Basterds" and 2. they have an amazing collection of original vintage film cameras! Movie nerd nirvana! The museum itself is small and spread out over a few levels. There are exhibits celebrating all aspects of filmmaking from acting, sound editing and projection to visual effects, lighting and the narrative of film. The exhibits have English guides too so no worries if you aren't fluent in the German language. The highlight will undoubtedly be the temporary exhibition. They change often but make sure you see the special exhibit during your visit, whatever it may be. There's a very cool, very sleek and very German cafe in the lobby. It's filled with other movie fans so it's a fantastic place to people watch and start up a conversation.

Elsewhere in Frankfurt and the Weimar region are statues of Schiller with Goethe but for this one,…read morehe is deservedly on his own. He spent much time and energy with his Goethe but as a poet, philosopher, historian and playwright, he deserves his own monument. Born 10 November 1759 in Marbach am Neckar and died 9 May 1805 in Weimar. Well known for the plays "Don Carlos" and "William Tell" he grew up being educated with the intent of joining the church as a pastor. This large statue is near Willy Brandt-Platz and the skyscrapers of Frankfurt.

When visiting pretty much any city or town in Europe, one of the main draws is the main square. Or…read moreone of several town squares. Römerberg is just that. It's a great place to start your exploration of Frankfurt. You'll be surrounded by beautiful architecture. There will be a statue for you to check out. It's a touristy area, sure (so I wouldn't have a meal in the area), but it's also a place locals go to congregate and hang out. With Germany getting bombed heavily during WWII, Römerberg still gives you the feeling of old school Germany. And while I wasn't there in December, if you are, you'll be able to check out the famous Christmas markets Germans are known for. Spend a little time here, walk around, and take it all in.

Beautiful square in Frankfurt with amazing architecture. We didn't get to stay long but enjoyed…read morewhile we did. Lovely buildings and picturesque spots. I liked the fountain in the middle. Don't know the history of this square but it was just beautiful. Some museums near by too, and short walk to the river.