Der Neckar, Sohn des Rheins

Basel is a city on the Rhine River in northwest Switzerland, close to the country’s borders with France and Germany. Its medieval old town centers around Marktplatz, dominated by the 16th-century, red-sandstone Town Hall. Its 12th-century Gothic cathedral has city views, and contains the tomb of the 16th-century Dutch scholar, Erasmus. The city’s university houses some of Erasmus’ works.

Stralsund is a Hanseatic town on Germany’s Baltic coast. Its Old Town has many red-brick Gothic landmarks, like the 13th-century Town Hall. The Stralsund Museum maintains a medieval merchant’s house and monastery. The Ozeaneum aquarium has tanks recreating the habitats of the Baltic Sea and North Sea, plus a penguin pool. In the harbor is Gorch Fock I, a 1933 tall ship. A bridge links Stralsund to Rügen island.

Heidelberg is a town on the Neckar River in southwestern Germany. It’s known for venerable Heidelberg University, founded in the 14th century. Gothic Heiliggeistkirche church towers over the cafe-lined Marktplatz, a town square in the Altstadt (Old Town). The red-sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a noted example of Renaissance architecture, stand on Königstuhl hill.

Bad Wimpfen is a historic spa town in the district of Heilbronn in the Baden-Württemberg region of southern Germany. It lies north of the city of Heilbronn, on the river Neckar.