Saline 1822

Bad Wimpfen

Take the whole family on holiday to Bad Wimpfen. The small town is located on the river Neckar in the countryside. This medieval town, less than an hour's drive from Mannheim, is one of the favourite sights in the Neckar Valley - and for good reason! The town was spared destruction during both the First and Second World Wars and so today you can enjoy the sight of many well-preserved old houses. Try a cheap self-drive holiday from Risskov and discover the region in a different way.

Heidelberg

A visit to Heidelberg, 20 km from Mannheim, is a step back in time to a medieval world where knights and castles were commonplace and monks were busy brewing beer in their monasteries. You'll spot the towering red sandstone castle of Heidelberg and its towers atop a hill in the centre of Heidelberg. Here it stands overlooking cobbled streets, historic houses and on a stroll, you'll quickly sense the charm of the bustling university town. With the River Neckar meandering through the city, pleasure boats and old bridges, hills covered in greenery, and a lively downtown core filled with artsy boutiques and cafes covered in ivy, Heidelberg is an idyllic place to visit, even without the castle. But Heidelberg Castle (Heidelberg Schloss) is the city's crown, pride and joy and should definitely be experienced when on a family holiday or weekend break in southern Germany.

Ludwigsburg

Take a family car holiday in Germany and head to Stuttgart if you like. Find child-friendly hotels at Risskov and have a cheap holiday south of the border. About 15 km north of Stuttgart lies the charming and historic town of Ludwigsburg, which was the setting for Friedrich Schiller's childhood home. However, the town is best known for its impressive Versailles-inspired castle. Count Eberhard Ludwig built the sublime palace in the 18th century with the intention of making it one of the most pompous castles in Europe. The Baroque castle with its impressive gardens and palaces is a historic experience where you can almost feel the wings of history. Find a family self-drive holiday with Risskov and set off at your own pace with more time to enjoy the many experiences that await in Ludwigsburg.

Schwetzingen Castle

This impressive castle in Schwetzingen has roots dating back to 1350. At that time, however, there was only a small castle surrounded by moats, which in the 1600s was replaced by a large hunting lodge, and it was not until the early 1700s that the present castle took shape. The castle has been the summer residence of the Palatine electors over the centuries and many of the original details and interiors have been carefully preserved.

Today it is the city's number one tourist attraction, with beautiful, harmonious gardens and a variety of guided tours and major international music festivals and performances. The palace gardens are unique in that they express in a quite subtle way the different movements of history in architecture and garden design, with several different, and sometimes even contradictory, styles. Thus, for example, you will see Roman, English, French, Romantic and Baroque features on your way around. If you are on holiday in Schwetzingen or the surrounding area, you should definitely stop by the castle, which is located in the city's Altstadt!