Named in honor of Ludwig I of Bavaria, before 1844 Ludwigshafen wasn't much more than swamps, a fortress and an assortment of villages on the left bank of the Rhine. But today's industrialisation has given birth to a city just across the river from Mannheim. Depending on your interests, from here you can visit Heidelberg, a perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley or wander through the Schwetzingen Palace and Gardens and its more than 100 sculptures and an assortment of whimsical buildings. Or visit the ornate baroque sandstone watetower of Mannheim, a popular landmark and backdrop to so many wedding and holiday photos.