Heidelberg, Germany
Twain lived and wrote in Hartford, Connecticut for the majority of his career. It was in Hartford that he scribbled such works as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Life on the Mississippi. As much as Twain loved his quiet house where he could sit and smoke, he longed to travel the world; to “throw off the bowlines [and] sail away from the safe harbor” as he once said. In 1878, Twain took his family and set sail for Europe, where they spent the summer in the German city of Heidelberg.
Twain in Heidelberg
When Twain arrived in Germany, his writer’s block had left him with an unfinished manuscript that would later be known as Huckleberry Finn. He already had written of a long, wide river, but his time spent on the Neckar River is believed to have given him the inspiration necessary to finish the novel when the family returned to the U.S.
It was also in Heidelberg that Twain began work on his novel, A Tramp Abroad. The book details two characters, based on himself and his close friend, and their peculiar journeys throughout parts of Europe. The first half of the book covers their stay in Heidelberg where Twain writes, “Germany in the summer, the perfection of the beautiful, but nobody has understood, and realized, and enjoyed the utmost possibilities of this soft and peaceful beauty unless he has voyaged down the Neckar on raft.”
Walk in Twain’s Footsteps
If you’re lucky enough to visit Heidelberg, you may want to take advantage of the many Mark Twain inspired tours that are offered throughout the city. A tour guide, who may or may not be dressed as Twain, takes you through many of Twain’s haunts. Not only will you be able to see the Neckar river in all of its beauty that Twain described, but you’ll have the chance to explore Heidelberg’s thriving college scene as well.
Visit Germany with AESU
AESU offers unique, thrilling travel programs for college students and young professionals at affordable rates. Each trip is action-packed and informal—designed just for people your own age. We are also able to design custom tours just for your group.
AESU offers several trips to Germany, including Cosmopolitan, Euro Spree, Explorer, Euro Focus, and our most popular tour, Great Escape. Explore Germany and its rich history and culture.
If you have any questions or want help booking your next London adventure, please contact AESU by calling 800-638-7640, or fill out the contact form found on our website!