thingstatte

I've worked in Heidelberg a number of times but only heard about this place on my last visit. Cycled up the paths (steep in places but easily manageable on a mountain bike) and was awestruck when we got to this amphitheatre. No-one else was there and it is not exactly well sign posted but it is hard not to be emotional when you stand on the auditorium and think why it was built and what it was used for. The cycle down was great fun - zig zag tracks and exciting down hill sections Don't miss it if you visit Heidelberg

Go to the opposite hill across the Nekar and get lost in the woods, it is a magical place. Keep going up and reach the top where you will find a medieval tower. Watch the landscape but after it, keep going and you will find this incredible amphitheater built by the Nazis in the '35. If you keep walking you will find a kloster in ruins, also full of thrilling views and amazing nature.

This is a moderate walk of about an hour from central Heidelberg, but one which we did with our 3 children (10, 8 and 4 years) without difficulty. The paths are level and well-marked and it is a nice walk up to the Thingstatte. The site itself well rewards the walk. When we went up there, no one else was there and it was easy to get lost in the atmosphere of this huge arena as we walked all over it. A rewarding experience.

I have visited Thingstatte before in the Summer and this time we went in the snow of the winter. The way up is via a twisty road and the authorities had done a great job of clearing the roads of snow quickly after the snow fall. Standing in the amphitheater it is difficult not to think of the use to which it was put by the Nazi propaganda machine. There is limited parking and on our previous visit we walked up from the City which was brilliant. This is an excellent place to visit and reflect on history.

On my first trip back to Germany since 1960 when I was an exchange student in Luebeck, I wanted to re-visit Heidelberg. The Philosopher's Way to get to Thingstatte isn't as bad as some have said (even for this 70+ year old woman.) The ghosts of Nazi-era rallies (apparently Hitler planned this to recruit students from the University) and all the evil that Hitler waged upon the whole world gave me somber thoughts. I decided to do my own part (as the Germans are now doing by putting on plays and concerts in the amphitheater) by singing from the stage as loudly as I could the "new" German national anthem (Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit) instead of the old militant one from Hitler's era. It helped me anyway. I highly recommend this trip. Then go on a little further up the hill to the archeological ruins of St. Michael's monastery.

The walk up is tiring, but so worth it! I think there's a bus as well, but it was a nice day so we walked! Just past it there are ruins of an old monastery, which is really cool. If you have the time, definitely go see Thingstatte!

We and our adult son walked here on Christmas Day. There was little information, but we knew the tracks upwards from the Philosophers Way should get us there.There are some block directional stones in German. I recommend you talk to any locals you come across on your walk. Just to confirm you are on the right track!The walk upwards was magnificent at this time of year. The woodland trees are deciduous and with few people about, it was very eerie.We kept going up passing the Bismarck Tower, which overlooks Heidelberg. Fantastic views from here my husband and son assure me.Eventually,we reached St Stephens monastery, a relic of the past with another tower that can be climbed.Nearly there by now and a little further on there is a carpark and a bus stop. There is a pub here, called Waldschenke, but it was not open, probably because it was Christmas Day, and the bus did not run this late in the season.A bit more of a push up a more gentle incline and Thingstatte came into sight. Wow! The ampitheatre is huge and in very good condition. Solid blockwork for the seats and stage and sound/light buildings. There is moss between the blockwork. The acoustics are amazing. It didn't take much imagination to relive what it must have been like in the 1930's. Coupled with the unbelievable eerie location, this was a definite highlight of our trip.We walked back a different way enjoying more of the beautiful woodland.The whole trip, including return trip back to the Alte Brüke, took about 4 hours. There are some very steep parts and some easier walking.

I guess the Nazis figured anyone who wanted to climb the mountain opposite the city of Heidelberg really wanted to do so. The climb must have been a test in their beliefs otherwise it doesn't make a lot of sense. Once YOU get there it will be nothing but memorable. It stands out because you have no idea what to expect until you get there. Unfortunately because we got a bit lost we ran out of time to go all the way to the top of the opposing side of the stage. We also missed the nearby monastery. Here are some tips. Allow extra time for getting lost. Signage is almost nonexistent and in German. Check out my pic of the rock, but it provided no value to us. It will take 3 hours for sure. Bring water especially in warm weather. It's uphill. In fact the best guidance was from some one we met on the path who told us to just keep going up, which we did and we found it. Without a doubt this was one of the most memorable excursions of our recent trip to Europe. Take on the Challenge--it's worth it.

For history buffs, or even those seeking to stretch their legs, accessing the Thingstatte is a real step through history - from the remains of a roman temple to a second world war propaganda relic...and two millennium of church ruins in between.The ruins are even more interesting on foggy or poor weather days.

Having lived in Heidelberg for a number of years, this was always a unique place to bring any guests. You can look up the history of how and why it was built but now it is used as a place for pupils, graduating from German high school, to have a party. In the recent past it was also used for outdoor performances of plays and an occasional opera. There is no public transportation to it's location up on the Heiligenburg (Holy Mountain) above the Philosophenweg (Philosophers Path). It is a hike from that path or you can hire a car to get to it and it is worth the trip. Also, above this area is another wonderful area called St Michaels Cloister. There is also a little Guest House restaurant for good bier and food.

Google told me getting from the station to there would be around 45 minutes. This was the time it took to walk _downhill_. Uphill was way longer and you should be prepared for a trip that is a little exhausting. The hiking itself is OK but this doesn't make this one a rank 5 in Heidelberg. Check out the pictures and if you decide going there is worth because for whatever reason, go check it out if you bring 3h of time. If you have less than 2 whole days in Heidelberg, I advise not going there.

Beautiful in the spring. The moss on the ruins made for some great pics and the view over the Nakar Valley was great.

In the middle of Philosophers Way you can go upwards, where you find a kiosk to by icecream. Everytime you can choose right or left you take the alternative leading up.Soon you will pass a tower and a little later some viewpoints, you will see some woods of the kind you find in the fairytails and then suddenly you´ll see the tower of the monestary. Stop and go up and you have another viewpoint from the top of the tower. From here it´s only 10 minutes to Thingstatte. The theatre is big. Why did the nazis build the theatre here? How was it? What happened? And Heidelberg? You can go by car but then you miss all the romantic, the nature, the people you meet and the sweat you´ll have during a wonderful walk.We met some people who brought their bikes and from the top they had a comfortable ride down to Heidelberg.I would not recommend kids younger than 6 - 8 years old walking to the top, neither people who thought the steps up to Philosophers Way was heavy. The walk to Thingstatte is lots more.Bring water and something to eat. Reckon you need 3 - 4 hours depending on the pace and how long you´ll stay on different viewpoints, towers and on Thingstatte.

Beautiful open air amphitheater. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area near Heidelberg. Plenty of history in the area and lots of walking/hiking tracks. Recommended although you'll need a car to get there, bonus is that it's free.

We climbed up there because some colleagues told me the place a really nice viewpoint over the valley and the Heidelberg castle downwards. Which was true, but when we started walking a bit further we discovered this incredible amphitheater as well as the ruins of a monastery from the 11th century. Definitely to be seen when going to Heidelberg. Few people actually go there to visit, we were about maximum 10 people up there.