Germanys most popular tourist destinations. Start by climbing the socalled philosophers pop following in the footsteps of long gone students and scholars from miles back university today local people and visitors alike take this path. From the top to get the best view of the city. I live where it is very high up on the to do list for anyone visiting germany this summer though the coronavirus pandemic has kept many travelers away what does that mean for locals and for tourists like me do manage to come whats the city like without the masses of visitors lets find out. If we look into highly very good universities old student debt. Tension sells. Our viewer sandrock roberto takes us on a sightseeing tour of monaco. We receive greetings and this weeks v mail from the white sea at russias northern edge. But 1st things 1st palace is a must today its a ruin but its the ghostly air of mortality that makes up its charm. The castle was closed for 3 months in spring because of the lockdown now its open to visitors again. But to make sure our cameras didnt slow them down we got a special tour. And it started off with an important announcement. That. You have got im afraid to guess well have to wear masks during the tool i wanted to ask if its alright with you if i take mine off. Ill keep my distance and youll be able to understand me much better after our story no problem. Yes and then ill take it off. His team and off we go given those of his letters to. The arrows point the way for visitors just down a bag of gives me a quick rundown of the highly back castles history. Starting in the 13th century it was the residence of the prince a lecturer of coal at mit each successor renovated and expanded it according to his own taste and wishes. It was destroyed again and again the last time by french troops in the 17th century in the 19th Century Preservation work on the ruins and a partial reconstruction commenced. Deficit this is a cool chapel it was built in the renaissance style by prince electoral frederick. The full fall but if you look up youll see it doesnt have much to do with the renascence rather its more gothic chapel it wasnt so badly damaged and the prince alecto was able to integrate it into his renascence additions very nicely what came later in the 1st half of the 18th century is this baroque alter with the perhaps ism of christ and the organ. Org dot org after butterscotch. We move onto one of the ceremonial halls here its plain to see how carefully the castle was reconstructed generally the hall is used for various exhibitions but because of the corona crisis and remains closed for now. This is an extraordinary building was commissioned by prince elector frederick the 4th the facade embellished with the likenesses of his ancestors unfortunately here too we cannot enter due to corona related restrictions. Different after the fund as i had from the safety precautions what effect has corona had for the castles visitors of america but 1st we found a lot fewer visitors to hyderabad and most of the ones we do have come from germany and were glad of that but the americans and the japanese arent coming though its picking up now weve noticed this. And we dont give nearly as many tours as we used to. We always have to observe this distance thing and thats going quite well but whats a real shame is that normally the Heidelberg Castle theatre festival is held here in the castle. They were hers here and thats always nice to watch for us too. But all thats being canceled and its really a shame that this come on the show if a physician. But the prince the electors wine cellars can be visited by that this is the worlds biggest wine keg ever to be filled with large wine kegs do exist but they were never fairly what this ones been filled at least 3 times come on lets go. On top of the giant barrel is a little dance floor 6 or 7 couples can cut the rug or the wood at a time. From here we have a good view of pirkei. He was a court jester and cub there and he spoke italian and german and whenever anyone offered him a copilot of wine he doesnt see an italian you know why not all and people and heil bird turned out to mark a oh. The weather gods are showing us some mercy at least for now and right away the old bridge over the next life ends up and. The streets and squares are filling up to. The corona crisis doesnt seem to have had too great an impact on tourism or has it. To accept this lets see what things were like around these parts exactly one year ago lets hop into our time machine and travel back to 2090. And some of 2019 the streets of heidelberg old town were already bustling at 8 am every minute tour groups from all over the world were disembarking from bosses in cruise ships little brought them up from the rhine for others it was a stop on a larger European Tour and i had only 4 hours for the rim antic city this tall group from colombia had to press on. But it was enough time to inspire some enthusiasm. That the architecture totally impressed me these wonderful buildings everything his soup you just saw him. At lunch time the crowd surged through the old town not long ago they were almost all japanese and american in some 2019 they were from all corners of the us with more coming from china all the time i think this old bridge is so great. Its multicultural nice if you beautiful view actually. People are really nice you believe in the future for decades to the United States army base that helped to spread the word stateside heidelberg is a nice bit of old germany we love germany because its like life has stood still and its were from the state so this is really something. In 2013 some 13000000 visitors pass through the city but given these years to run a crisis things may be changing behind you back to. Take here a little about these very different times im meeting. Managing director of hyderabad marketing. As elevens mr sheen were walking across the squares here in heidelberg how would you say the numbers of tourists have changed compared to this time last year. In january and february we had 14 percent more overnight stays even though the pandemic was already known to be on the way but the figure struck rapidly in march and april we had cancellations of up to 100 percent in the hotels and restaurants were devoid of life. They closed up as required and it was eerie but what i wish we did and yes how does the visitor figures look right now looking around we can see theres some activity of course many germans are here but how many visitors have come from abroad. We wont leave people out in the rain weve allowed the Restaurant Owners to expand their outdoor seating with no extra charge as patrons are supposed to sit inside and fairly close together like some do. And you can see the effects by the increase in tourists were a beautiful city and we profit from it. As a hot spot and weve always benefited from domestic tourism. In the Mission Field with most of it here 300 percent of our overnight guests are domestic tourists so of course thats a nice little bonus. In trying to come through a lot of normal you many of the visitors come by boat from the river cruise ships are they staying away or are things starting to move again as. There are 2 categories of river cruises one is the big cruises the tour the rhine call that man and then come to hide it back. But theyre not coming yet because theyre booked almost exclusively by american and Chinese Tourists and the International Borders are still closed but weve already had 2 river cruise ships from switzerland arrive this week and last. With. The nice thing is you can see the city coming back to life again. The shore and its come to that and even to stop. The least in theory and in the absence of International Tourism the whole atmosphere is a bit more relaxed is that nice for the visitors coming here now they can take it easy here and enjoy the city. Yes and no were missing the International Visitors title bags always been an International City that comes from the university and many of the students havent returned here yet just because the borders are close to the International Element is missing now in hyderabad. Of course we all hope the corona crisis will soon be over what lessons can haile bird learn from this so. We love every guess that comes the high will be but its always hard to put together a program of events for a city we need the major promoters to approach things a new way to transport people to the city differently that be much nicer for both the guest and for the people of title back and what do you mean about transporting people to the city differently i wouldnt mind if i should be in a van and for instance when a ship disembarks its passengers one possibility would be not to send all the buses for one ship into heidelberg or once but rather to various stops along different routes. The feud with the confession then you wouldnt have all the visitor standing in front of the castle but once that improves the experience for the visitor and for us thats all we have it for the rest and for those and we both benefit the visitor and the heidelberg are going to have a backup. Im sure youve noticed by now that i lurked is just dripping with history. Now and im heading over to the citys oldest chocolate makers it was founded in 863. 00 and sells a kind of suite thats only available here in heidelberg. By you because youve got the highly back student dont you think you know yes weve got one sitting right here and its a really tasty little waif with new gods inside and chocolate i dont cite that can be male cool dark chocolate and it has a romantic backstory the young ladies in town used to frequent the cafes in large numbers but since they were always watched by their aunts or governesses the students couldnt make contact with them so the pastry maker feeling had a sweet idea. Or do you have that right and he sold them under the counter to young men who would then stick a message in the box. And they would slip the whole thing into the folds of the young ladys skin thats right so they governesses wouldnt even notice it. Over the so that way they could pass love notes to the ladies. To stick around for prominent visitors to heidelberg such as im glad macko and the duchess of cambridge are often given student kisses as souvenirs so ive absolutely got to try one. 0 wow thats super lucius no wonder its so famous. Well thats why its over here was gone and no in time travel video on the other hand lasts a lot longer is that something our viewer Victor Cornish have also knows before the pandemic you travelled to the white sea in russia and captured the highlights for us. We want to know your favorite place to go on vacation send us your videos you can upload them at d. F. W. Dot com slash travel. Friend of high leg university i meet historian christiane villan about the university as germanys oldest founded in 1386 the University Museum is closed due to the corona crisis but the biggest tourist attraction is still open. While the where have we come to now for heavens sake it looks a bit like a squat with graffiti all over but in fact were here in heidelberg student jail the old students prison the famous at 1st the cells were a thoroughly serious matter but they turned more and more into a bit of fun they were meant for a misdemeanor such as public drunkenness so everybody wanted to sit in this fabled student prison at least once. In 79 a sentences range from a 3 to a maximum of 14 day this year and you see this graffiti everywhere lets come and you can sum it up as the door stood open i had to pay rent if i wanted to stay and yeah so it became a kind of privilege i could bring paint and get creative if i was hungry i could have food brought to me from a fine restaurant all the university it was the university knew full well that that set up a kind of partys own of the late 19th century if. There is no other place like it in germany i bumped into any old acquaintance from the castle calle the couple there. But this is christiane villain back us favorite graffito. The famous innocent drawing with a lot. Most of all these angels wings of course its a very unfair victims of the Justice System will not stop you or. The poor youngsters. And essential parts of any University Life worth living is a student the oldest in town is the water box the red arcs in business for 180 years the rustic tavern is now one of the sights of highly burg but its patrons werent only students the famed american author mark twain dropped by many of the patrons immortalized themselves and their guest books as the proprietor Philip Spangler shows me and probably our most interesting john way was our guest here. And apparently he liked it and good food go well together. This is. This is this is Mamie Eisenhower the wife of former us president dwight d. Eisenhower. And this is their limit. Philip spangle has endless stories to tell over 30 guests books have been filled up in the course of time and if someone didnt appear in the guest book they might have left their mark on the tables time for our section needs a local and this weeks edition will catch up with corvet oh shes a teacher from germany living in monaco and some day shell show us the best science and the 2nd smallest nation on the planet. Hello hello and welcome to monika im sandra and have been living for over 25 years here in my adopted homeland im excited to show you my favorite spots here. This life in monaco is like in a big city and yet also like in a village. In the small streets youll see so many incredibly beautiful houses you can take time to enjoy a coffee its so lovely here nearby you have to see on the mountains monaco has it all. So here we are at the most important spots in monaco and in the center of the old town is a princes palace where the prince and his family live. Beautiful grand plaza. Toward. 870 nearly every day there has been a changing of the guard ceremony in front of the palace dont miss it. I wish that another place you must visit while in monaco is the. Atomic ogaden with plants from all over the world frank mexico America Africa so many of them are over 100 years old. This is an ok. Its been a 150 years since the park was opened careful it shot it can. Take hello isnt that lovely now you understand why i love monaco so much. I mean my next stop the oceanic graphic institute. Everything is about protecting. Dust musial the museum. Has a marine sanctuary for injured turtles. So they can be catch for right on site. Isnt it sweet. I love everything in this aquarium its found in the mediterranean in that the mail before. That was my day in monaco i hope you had as much fun as i did see you see you and as the money goes this would say as i say riveting. Its easy to get the impression that highly back is all about old historical sites not so just across the river everyone gathers on the neck at Great Lengths to enjoy the summer. Theres plenty of waterborne action to be found here in heidelberg but if you personally are looking for a more relaxed option i highly recommend you hop onto one of these river boats because they will take you right to the beautiful that cowbell you check out our next report for a little preview. All aboard for a cruise on the can you can sylvia Swedens Queen so everyone who was born in heidelberg. It starts out with a view of the council from the water and then moves out into the countryside. The 1st port of call is noise. On a street was founded in the 12th century 11 benedictine monks still live today. Weve got a lot going on here today so. The women of murder the monastery cannot go well. Tours are an important part of the moment strains public relations. There are fact lots of people who may know about the abbey but are unaware that monks still actually live here. So we in our new abbot are currently trying to expand our presence in the world outside. The monastery brewery now brews organic beer by longstanding craft tradition and markets it regionally. Of course overseas it is quite an opportunity to taste the brothers room. The rock river the neck on stands to wind across north and bobby gordon book highlight in his despair council a fortress built in the 12th century that now overlooks the town of. It takes a bit of climbing to reach the console so a bite to eat at the top is often welcomed here visitors can indulge themselves with sweets also handcrafted before reporting the boat to continue on the neck up. We choose just as romantic as heidelberg itself. Even ng has fallen in heidelberg the day trippers have moved on but the tables in the restaurants and bars are crowded anyway its a welcome piece of normalcy in the summer of crises. A lot of different this summer and heidelberg i for one really enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere although we certainly all hope that the city will soon be able to welcome guests from all around the globe that for today thanks for joining and taken care of yourself and see a next time somewhere in germany. A mixed ethnic spat cast until one Dance Company 12 exceptional dancers from across the globe are brought together by one of the most exciting choreographers of our time. To actually kind of carry you a Church Scholar and the ballet of arts 21. And 30 minutes on d w are they friends it. Or are they enemies of. Their board for roger. Donald trump and the sunday mirror proving our 2 part documentary n. Y. C. Difficult relationship between russia. And between their president how does their rivalry and their dangerous mutual admiration affect the rest of the world. Bosom bullies. In 75 minutes on d. W. What secrets lie behind. Discover new adventures in 360 degree. And explore fascinating World Heritage sites. P. W. World heritage 316 get kidnapped now. Im not going to think that it took a while because sometimes i am but i stand up and whimper that research i mean thinks deep into the german culture of looking at stereotypes a question that is think a seat of the country that i doubt im playing. Need to change big picture this drama there you go yes its all about ok no im a joke join me from the german sunday w. Post. How does a virus spread. Why do we panic and when well all miss them just 3 of the topics from cover and the weekly radio show is called spectrum if you would like any information on the krona maurice or any other science topic you should really check out our podcast you can get it wherever you get your podcast you can also find us at dot com slash science. This is deja vu news live from berlin mandatory coronavirus testing begins for travelers arriving in germany testing stations are open at arrival terminals as concerns grow that a 2nd wave of the pandemic may be hitting germany the new rules apply to anyone arriving from regions deemed to be high risk also coming up in beirut of big cleanup effort as the city