Botanischer Garten

The Botanical Garden of Heidelberg's Ruprecht-Karls-Universität occupies the north bank of the Neckar River within the Neuenheimer Feld campus and functions as a living research and teaching facility of its Centre for Organismal Studies. Heidelberg University — founded in 1386 and the oldest in Germany — has maintained botanical collections in various forms since the 16th century, making the garden part of a deep institutional tradition. Today's collection spans native and exotic species actively used in biological research, with a greenhouse holding tropical and subtropical plants. Admission is free, the site is easily reached by bicycle along the Neckar riverside path, and its unhurried atmosphere offers a genuine contrast to the heavily visited old town across the river.