Heidelberg's Main Square and Pedestrian Lane, the Marktplatz and Hauptstrasse

We visit the main market square and pedestrian lane od Heidelberg, Germany. One of the main places you want to see in Heidelberg is the Marketplace Square, or “Marktplatz” and the little alleys around this central market square. It’s nice and peaceful early in the day before all the other tourists arrive, so if you get there after breakfast you can have the center of town to yourself for a while.
Typical of most European towns, the marketplace has always been the main square, hosting a variety of activities from food sales to public executions. People are still drawn here to the outdoor tables set up for eating, drinking beer and watching other people. There are little shop stalls built into the wall of the big church between the buttresses, in a tradition that has been carried on here since the Middle Ages and typical of many other churches throughout the region. These stalls sell tourist items, so it is a good place to look for postcards, t-shirts and anything that says Heidelberg on it.
23. On Wednesdays and Saturdays there is an outdoor farmers market until 2:00pm, with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and cheeses and flowers to buy. You might have a picnic later in the day, or just browse and watch the locals in action.
The Hauptstrasse was one of the first pedestrian streets created and all of Europe, of course. Earlier it was a street for cars, it would be a narrow street, but it would've had busy automobile traffic, but many decades ago. The town decided they wanted to create this wonderful ambience of pedestrian mall that stretches about a mile from the main square into the more modern downtown and of course since then and the last 3040 years. Throughout Europe, you find many streets and the downtowns have been converted from automobile streets to pedestrian malls and then the cities continue expanding their pedestrian zones into the side streets and into the back streets and it just keeps on going. The cities have discovered that by keeping the cars out you bring people in and it's better for business.
Standing in the middle of the Marktplatz gives you a fine perspective on the heart of town, with the old City Hall on one side the Holy Ghost Church (“Heiliggeistkirche”) on the other. In between, the outdoor cafés usually have their tables set up for food and beer.
The main street reaches out from the marketplace in both directions You will be drawn irresistibly down the alluring Hauptstrasse, the high street with one shop after another in a lineup of historic buildings that continues for a mile.
The Hauptstrasse was one of the first pedestrian streets created and all of Europe, of course. Earlier it was a street for cars, it would be a narrow street, but it would've had busy automobile traffic, but many decades ago. The town decided they wanted to create this wonderful ambience of pedestrian mall that stretches about a mile from the main square into the more modern downtown and of course since then and the last 3040 years. Throughout Europe, you find many streets and the downtowns have been converted from automobile streets to pedestrian malls and then the cities continue expanding their pedestrian zones into the side streets and into the back streets and it just keeps on going. The cities have discovered that by keeping the cars out you bring people in and it's better for business.
Well keep going to the end of the pedestrian zone and there you will run into the busy modern city. That's the modern part will you'll find that Galleria Kaufhof which is a big department store. And they’ve got everything inside, including very nice bakery and sandwich bar right out front.
It's a busy spot here at Bismarckplatz. This is where the buses come in the trams come in. It's a major transit center. So this whole neighborhood is really quite interesting to see the more modern, the less touristic side of Heidelberg. There's really not much in the way of historic sites down here, but it's fascinating nonetheless. To watch this tram action. There are a number of different tramlines and lot of people catching the bus who are transferring from one tram to another and notice how safe and easy it is. They can walk right in front of the trains. No problem. People hop off one vehicle and hop onto another vehicle and continue on their way.
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