Merianblick (Merian's View), Heidelberg

To get a glimpse of how Heidelberg looked before any of the wars began, follow the Philosophers' Path to Merianblick, or Merian's View. This sandstone platform features an copperplate engraving of Heidelberg from the 1620s, allowing tourists to compare the historical map with the present-day city. The map depicts the city before the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) within the Holy Roman Empire, which led to Heidelberg's destruction. The engraving itself was created by Matthaus Merian, a Swiss artist known for his topographical works.