Heidelberg Bergbahn

The Heidelberg Bergbahnen

History of the Heidelberg Bergbahn

What is the Heidelberg Bergbahn?

Stations of the Heidelberg Bergbahn

The Heidelberg mountain railroad was originally built to serve the Molkenkur. The lift was first built only as far as the Molkenkur. In the end, there were two railways with four stations.

The lower railway runs from the Kornmarkt in the old town via the Schloss (castle) station to the Molkenkur. The Molkenkur is the transfer station: this is where you will find the Schlosshotel Molkenkur and the former Molkenkur spa complex. From here, the upper railway runs to the Königstuhl.

History of the Heidelberg Bergbahn

The Heidelberg funicular and mountain railroads, You can also see a bit of the municipal utilities.

The history of the Heidelberg Mountain Railway began around 1873, when the Swiss engineer Niklaus Riggenbach drew up some of the first plans. The lower railway opened in 1890. In 1907, the upper railway to the Königstuhl was opened.

The total length of the line is 1491 meters. The track to the first station (Molkenkurbahn) is 471m long, while the track to the second station (Königstuhlbahn) is 1020m long.

The lower railway also goes through a tunnel, which is 210m long. The ride to the Molkenkur takes about 5 minutes, the upper railway to the Königstuhl about 9 minutes.

During the years the railroad was modernized again and again. In its beginnings, the lower railway still used the water-ballast technique; it was converted to electric operation in 1907. After a modernisation from 2003 to 2005, the lower railway runs with new, larger cars, while the upper railway still uses its historic wooden cars. The upper railway is the oldest funicular in Baden-Württemberg and was listed as a cultural monument of special significance in 2004. Nowadays, more and more tourists use the mountain railroad. However, every now and then there is a maintenance of the two cable cars. The visitors are notified on the homepage.

Who is the inventor of the Heidelberg Bergbahn?

Niklaus Riggenbach drew up the first plans for a funicular railroad in 1873. This was the oldest documented mention of the mountain railroad. In the following years, there were subsequent discussions about which plans were the better ones. In 1883, the Leferenz company applied for a concession, which was granted in 1888. Construction lasted from 1888 to 1889, and the railway opened in 1890. At the moment, the current operator is Heidelberger Straßen- und Bergbahn GmbH.

Who is the current operator of the mountain railroads?

It is not Rhein Neckar Verkehr GmbH as many think, but Heidelberger Straßen- und Bergbahn GmbH.

Why should you use the Heidelberg mountain railway?

Unique view

By using the beautiful historic Heidelberg mountain railways, visitors get a unique view of the city of Heidelberg. In winter, there is a possibility to take a hike through a snowy landscape, while in summer, on sunny days, visitors can enjoy the weather in the castle and its surroundings. By the way, Heidelberg with its castle is one of the most famous cities in Germany.

King’s Chair Activities

Downhill from Königstuhl

Since 2012 there has been an official freeride and downhill area on the Königstuhl. It may only be used by members and guest card holders of the HD-Freeride club, and you must observe the rules of the club and the city of Heidelberg. The club organises a shuttle when enough riders take part. Annual membership costs €80 for an adult and €60 for a young person up to 18. There is also a family membership for which you have to pay €100.

Fairytale paradise on the Königstuhl

The fairytale paradise is a small amusement park for children on the Königstuhl, close to the mountain railway station. This is a wonderful activity for families with children.

Hiking trails on the Königstuhl

There are various starting points for hikers. The best known is the start at the car park. You should arrive here early to make sure you get a parking space. On sunny days, the car park is almost always full. Make sure that your rucksack contains at least one bottle of water, as it can be strenuous on sunny days. After the hike, you can visit the Molkenkur.

Prices and travel times at a glance

There are currently four ticket categories. These are the Panorama Ticket (whole route including castle admission), the Königstuhl Ticket (upper railway), the Schloss Ticket (lower railway including castle admission) and the Annual Ticket. The price of the tickets for certain people is also reduced. The costs are reasonable and can be found in the linked price table. If there are passengers traveling with their families, there are extra ticket prices. The mountain railway runs daily from 09:00; closing times vary by season and between the two railways. It is possible to book the mountain railway individually for events and other functions.

Are there other places of interest in the vicinity of the Heidelberg mountain railway?

With the help of the mountain railroad, visitors can easily and quickly ascend the Königstuhl. This gives you more time to visit the other historical monuments of Heidelberg. This is, among others, the famous Heidelberg Castle. It was partially destroyed by French troops in the War of the Palatinate Succession (Nine Years’ War) in 1689 and 1693. Castle admission is included in the Schloss Ticket and the Panorama Ticket of the mountain railway. If there is enough time, then the castle courtyard is recommended to make yourself comfortable on the lawn in the castle park. The castle is famous throughout Baden-Württemberg. You can survey the Rhine plain a few meters further over a small bridge. However, you should take care of yourself when you lean over the edge. In addition, you can enjoy the beautiful Königstuhl and the view of Heidelberg. The Königstuhl is around 570 m high.

There is also the possibility to visit the Königstuhl by bike. If you want to ride the trails and the forest paths, you should rather use a mountain bike or a gravel bike. With a road bike you can ride up the normal road. As a cyclist you have to respect the 2 meters rule.

There are also good trails that are nice in the summer. If you prefer more empty trails, then it is better to start either in the morning or in the evening. As a hiker, you have to watch out for cyclists. Once you have visited each station, you have two options to get to the old town. In the old town there are many different stores where there is something for every visitor. You can look from the Königstuhl on good days all the way to the Palatinate Wine Route.

Are there any overnight accommodations in Heidelberg?

There is more than one possibility to stay overnight on the Königstuhl. At the Molkenkur station there is the Schlosshotel Molkenkur. It is a 4-star hotel. There are also events in the castle from time to time, but these usually need an extra reservation.

More Information

More information can be obtained directly at the location of the mountain railroad. If they have a fear of heights, then all passengers with a fear of heights should look ahead. You can find the contact on the homepage of the Heidelberg mountain railroad.

Direction

There are several ways to reach the Königstuhlbahn. If you came by train for a trip to Heidelberg, there are several lines from the main station. The other option is to take the RNV to the Rathaus/Bergbahn Heidelberg stop. The trip takes about 15 minutes with public transports e.g. RNV. This can also be reached by train. So it is possible to still explore certain streets in the old town of Heidelberg. On the other hand, there is the stop HD Schloss. This can be reached by bus line 30.

Parking is also available at the Kornmarkt. The ride from the Kornmarkt to the Molkenkur takes about 5 minutes, the upper railway to the Königstuhl about 9 minutes.

Conclusion

If you want to visit the sights in a relaxed way, the Heidelberg mountain railroads from the company Heidelberger Straßen- und Bergbahn GmbH is a great option. It is also a good alternative way for older people or for people with walking difficulties to reach the castle courtyard. So that you can also explore the rest of the sights on the Königstuhl, you should plan enough time. In the evening, you can still have dinner at a restaurant of your choice in Heidelberg before returning to your hotel.

Tours & Tickets

Tours & Tickets nearby

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