Comenius- Meeting from 18th to 20th May 2005

Thursday, May 19

Friday, May 20

The Bergstrasse

A short presentation produced by Annie Galinat, Yasmin Eismayr, Julika Wisniewski,
Kathrin Wiegand, Carmen dela Cruz, Mona Vetter und Nicole von Stein.
 

 The stripe of land between the Rhine plains and the steeply rising Odenwald hills that offer protection from the eastern winds is known as the „Bergstrasse“.

It is an ancient tra-ding route, called „strata montana“ by the Romans.

It is 67 magnificent kilometers from Darmstadt via Heidelberg to Wiesloch.

 The climate here is even mild enough for some Mediterranean fruits to thrive in protected spots, and fine, full-bodied wines are produced on the Bergstrasse´s sun-kissed slopes.

 There are summer residences and places surrounded by parkland – the perfect invitation to take a closer look at the region´s history. Exotic plants and trees from all over the world, tobacco plants and asparagus all flourish here.

 The tallest sequoia in Germany (53meters) stands in the Fürstenlager park in Auerbach. Traces of culture and history dating back more than 2.000 years can be found along the Odenwald´s western slopes between Darmstadt north, with its university, science institutions and Art Nouveau features, and the romantic university town of Heidelberg and the wine town of Wiesloch in the south.

 Castles and places, medieval aristocratic residences, ancient timber-framed buildings, proud town halls and a string of towns and villages steped in legend all tell of a turbulent past. The first chapters in the history of the Bergstrasse were written by Celts, Romans, Franks and Germanic tribes.

  The most beautiful ruin on the Bergstrasse is the Auerbach Castle. It lies between Darmstadt and Heidelberg, above the climatic health resort Bensheim-Auerbach in one of the warmest and sunniest regions of Germany.

 Lorsch also plays an important role in the history of our region.

Founded on a small island in the river Weschnitz around 760, it rapidly changed from the nobility´s own small monastery to an important monastic centre between the North Sea and the Alpes.

The world famous Kingshall, built in about 800, is one of the most important relics of pre- Romanesque architecture in Germany.

In 1992 UNESCO placed this juwel and the rest of the former cloister Lorsch on the list of world cultural heritage.

 The district town of our Bergstrasse is Heppenheim.

This ancient town is one of the most beautiful places along the Rhine-Neckar region.

The main market square has a full arrangement of half-timber buildings.

The building in the center is the Heppenheim Town-Hall, while most of the surrounding buildings are souvenir shops, cafés, or restaurants.

 Beyond Heppenheim you can see the Starkenburg .

The unusual thing about this castle is that is serves as a youth hostel.

The stucture is very beautiful with watchtowers and a wall surrounding the hostel complex and a small oarking lot.

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Heidelberg

A short presentation produced by Anna Balsewicz, Isabelle Miege, Martina Rupp and  Marta Yusufova (11FR1)

 Heidelberg is situated in a wonderfully mild climate at the border of the Odenwald. It is certainly one of the most beautiful towns of Germany. Every year millions of tourists are charmed by the myth of Heidelberg. A cosmopolitan attitude and internationality characterize the city on the Neckar which has longstanding and close city partnerships all over the world.

            The modern city is future-orientated with regard to science and research, it is a powerful business location and an active centre of the “Rhein-Neckar-Triangle”.

            Today it has around 140.000 inhabitants.

 History

For the first time Heidelberg was mentioned in a document in 1196.

In 1386 the elector Ruprecht I founded the university.

The town was almost completely burnt down in 1689/93 and only a few buildings were saved, the “new” Old Town was rebuilt with only a few exceptions.

In 1840 the first railway in “Baden” from Mannheim to Heidelberg and back was opened.

The pedestrian zone in the Old Town was completed in 1978.

Then in 1986 there was a 600-year celebration for the university and ten years later a festivity to commemorate the 800 years of Heidelberg’s existence

Sightseeing

1)     Old University

2)     Bridge Gate

3)     Old Bridge (Carl-Theodor-Bridge)

4)     Heidelberg Castle

                                                                 Description

 1) Old University   

 The Old University building was built by Johann Adam Breunig in 1712-1735. For the university’s 500-year celebrations in 1896, the historic auditorium in its west wing was remodelled in Neo-Renaissance style.

 2) Bridge Gate

It is part of the “Old Bridge” and served as a guardhouse and jail.

 3) Old Bridge

The connecting building was put up in 1786-88 at the same time as the beautifully curved stone bridge to be found there today, which replaced a chain probably of 8 bridges which kept falling victim to floods or ice-floes.

 4) Heidelberg Castle

Over the course of centuries, the Castle and its grounds reflected the rise and fall of Heidelberg as a Prince Elector’s residence. In the early 19th century, it made Heidelberg a mecca of German romanticism.

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Region Odenwald