Ladenburg, stepping into the past 😊

Ladenburg is about 25 Kms from Walldorf. Vinay, Advaith and I went there one afternoon. There are so many beautiful towns in Germany.  Gayatri, Vinay and Advaith had  been there and thought  that I should see the place. After parking the car   we walked towards the Neckar river flowing peacefully by.

Many people were taking their afternoon walks, some were jogging and others were walking with their dogs. There is a cycling track. There is a view point structure to see the river flowing by. We met an elderly couple, the gentleman told us he been to Lucknow and Varanasi. A very sweet couple, we parted wishing each other a happy new year.

We then walked to the old town. A weekly market was being held. We walked on the cobbled streets with beautiful houses on both sides. The churches have an old worldly look. Of course, they are very old.

I was remembering Timeline by Michael Crichton.  As we walked along I could not stop being amazed by the colourful Fachwerk buildings. Many had the year of their construction engraved on them.

Gayatri tells me it is a rule in Germany that the owners of the old buildings cannot change the facade but they can renovate inside the house in any way they want to. And they also get some tax reduction. This is really good because these beautiful old buildings get to be preserved. It is such a joy to see them.The old stone streets and colorful half-timbered buildings , lots of twists and turns of the cobbled streets take us back to the medieval times.

The Internet is such a blessing in so many ways. We can read so much about the places we have visited or would like to visit. Before going to Ladenburg I had read that it  is about the most colorful and best preserved of the towns on the Neckar River.

Years of reconstruction and renovation have restored much of the city’s old wall, and it displays its old Roman heritage proudly.
It is true.

Ladenburg is on the Bertha Benz Memorial Route.  The Bertha Benz Memorial Route is a German tourist and theme route in Baden-Württemberg and member of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.It opened in 2008 and follows the tracks of the world’s first long distance road trip in 1888.
Dr.Karl Benz moved to Ladenburg in 1906  and just like his cars, he knew a good thing when he saw it. He lived there till his death in 1929.

We walked on for about an hour . On our way back we bought some cheese and a small pumpkin in the weekly market.  I am really glad I got to see this beautiful place