VERA CORNELIUS VIPTOURS
DISCOVER HEIDELBERG AND ITS REGION LIKE NEVER BEFORE!
VERA CORNELIUS VIPTOURS
DISCOVER HEIDELBERG AND ITS REGION LIKE NEVER BEFORE!
Your Personal and Exclusive Tour Service
Prestigious tours according to your every wish.
Crown your stay in Heidelberg with unforgettable highlights in which I accompany you to important places, incredible castles and parks as well as hidden gems. In addition, I offer individual events in cooperation with experienced experts in the region. For example, how does a drive on the legendary Hockenheim Formula One racetrack sound, or a guided shopping trip or exclusive cooking course? And there’s more – hiking trips and excursions to medieval ruins and breathtakingly beautiful panoramic views are included in my program. My team has first-class insider knowledge that will surprise you. Of course, you will be chauffeured in a luxury SUV with me as your guide.
VIPTOURS clients come from all over the world, for example the USA,
Australia, Costa Rica, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Norway.
Also renowned companies and associations such as ABB, ADM, Coca-Cola and Manchester City belong to the clients of VIPTOURS.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely, Vera Cornelius-Lambert
CURRICULUM VITAE – VERA CORNELIUS
Discover Heidelberg and its region like never before – with an insider!
From 2007 until 2016 I was the Managing Director of the Heidelberg City-Marketing and Event Limited.
I brought considerable experience in international marketing and communication to the position, evidenced by the fact that I had already served as the companies head of tourism marketing since 2002.
I hold a Master’s Degree in Economics, with a major in Information Science and minors in Business Administration and American Studies. During the course of my studies, I spent approximately two years in Chicago. There I completed several internships, including work as a trainee at Chicago’s Office of Tourism, with the Soccer World Cup Committee, and at the five-star Four Seasons hotel.
My particular interest in marketing and tourism began during my studies.
After receiving my master’s degree, I started my professional career in 1999 as a project manager with the E-Business department of the international agency McCann Erickson in Frankfurt – one of the world’s largest advertising agencies. They are able to boast of Eurocard, L ́Oréal and Nestlé among their clients.
From 2000 to 2002, I was a budget director for the international French advertising agency Publicis in Frankfurt which, among other projects, coordinated the introduction of the Euro for the German Government.
Since September 2016 I started a new career and my own business with exclusive tours in Heidelberg and the region. I am also author of the red dot awarded book Faszination Heidelberg/Fascination Heidelberg.
I am happy to show you our wonderful region and to be your personal guide.
Our Offer
Exclusive VIP Offers
- Personal shopping in Heidelberg and Mannheim
- Romantic dinner at an outstanding location and a special program
- Enjoy an experience in a salt room with a beauty, styling and spa program
- Tour of the Lorsch monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- VIP opportunities for a cruise by the Rhein-Neckar Schifffahrt company
- Visit Heidelberg’ s nearby mountains with a trip on the historical funicular and excursion to the observatory
- Personal sport programs: running, personal training, beach and volleyball, yoga, tennis
- Golf at Germany’s most beautiful golf course – St. Leon Rot, one of the top clubs in Europe as well as a member of the Leading Golf Courses of Germany since 2010
- Hiking Tour in the Odenwald (Oden Forest)
- Falconry show at Heidelberg’s nearby hilltop, the Königstuhl
- Exclusive evening out with a cultural program in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan area
- Helicopter sightseeing trip from Speyer
Enjoy a SUP(er) Tour on the River Neckar
Experience the city, its natural surroundings and its harmonious beauty from a different perspective – from the water.
The gentle waves of the Neckar add something special to the tour, and it is up to you whether you want to make it into an invigorating sporting experience or rather more relaxing and laidback. An experienced SUP guide will be there to accompany you.
Enjoy a SUP(er) Tour on the River Neckar
Experience the city, its natural surroundings and its harmonious beauty from a different perspective – from the water. The gentle waves of the Neckar add something special to the tour, and it is up to you whether you want to make it into an invigorating sporting experience or rather more relaxing and laidback. An experienced SUP guide will be there to accompany you.
Palace Park in Schwetzingen
A Cultural Monument of European Status
Duration of trip: 4 hours
Distance from Heidelberg: 17 km
Here’s a tour that will enchant your senses. Immerse yourself in the surroundings of the German Versailles and feel yourself transported back to the time of the Prince-Electors at this magnificent palace park. You will walk among flowers, trees and lakes, architectural follies and other structures built for pleasure. This romantic palace park offers a unique combination of baroque and English garden styles full of beauty and harmony. In this green oasis you will discover beguiling statues, water installations and formal garden arrangements. The high point is the fairy-tale mosque – one of the largest in German-speaking countries – the orangery and the rococo theater where Mozart was guest.
Experience the charm of this enchanting site. As a guest of VIPTOURS you will also be chauffeured into the park.
Palace Park
Distance from Heidelberg: 17 km
Exclusive Walking Tour with the Authors of Fascinating Heidelberg (Old City and Castle)
The founder of VIPTOURS, Vera Cornelius, is also the author of the lavishly illustrated book, Fascinating Heidelberg, that entertainingly covers the history and development of the city over the centuries.
The original idea for the book dates back to 2007, at which time the British photographer, Andrew Cowin, who has lived in the city for many years, was asked to provide the illustrations. An interesting innovation was to create transparencies showing how the city and castle looked before their partial destruction at the end of the 17th century: these are positioned so that they can be placed on modern photographs taken from a similar standpoint. The reader can thus effortlessly compare aspects of the city both then and now.
In fact, the exceptional design of Fascinating Heidelberg resulted in it winning the prestigious Red Dot Award. Thus, a walking tour of the city with Vera Cornelius and/or Andrew Cowin is the perfect way to experience that there is much, much more to Heidelberg than you could ever hope to find in a standard guided tour. Needless to say, the tour will include all of the classic sights and romantic views offered by the Old City and Castle, spiced with the sort of stories (not to say gossip) that will make this a memorable excursion.
On request, guests can be picked up at their hotel in a luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Exclusive Walking Tour with the Authors of Fascinating Heidelberg
Hockenheimring – Behind the Scenes of Formula One Racing That Takes You to the Limit
Feel the atmosphere behind the scenes of the experience of racing. Let yourself be accompanied through Hockenheimring, listen to the spectacular stories that make up this sport and step up onto the podium where Formula One heroes have stood. You can book this exclusively guided tour daily.
Duration of trip: 3.5 hours
Distance from Heidelberg: 30 km
In addition to the visit, you can choose the date for having the unique opportunity to be driven on the course in a racing taxi. This is definitely a ride of a different kind. Experience up close how professional racing drivers feel when they chase one another through the straights and curves of Hockenheimring. Enjoy a truly breathtaking drive that borders on the limits of the physically possible.
Hockenheimring
Price: € 340* (1-3 persons) Price racing taxi: € 550 per person
Distance from Heidelberg: 30 km
*Price for 1-3 persons, prices for 4 and more persons are slighty higher.
Wonderful Panoramic Tours Along the River to Medieval Fortress Ruins
Just a few miles from Heidelberg lies a picturesque route: the Burgenstrasse (Fortress Route), which winds along the Neckar River.
Duration of trip: about 4 to 8 hours
Distance from Heidelberg: 20 km to 200 km
Even Mark Twain was fascinated by its wonderful landscape. In the footsteps of this renowned author we take you to romantic places and magnificent fortress ruins as well as to the fortress town of Dilsberg. It is well-known for its fantastic panoramic view of the Neckar valley and the Odenwald (Oden Forest). Another highlight of the trip can be found below the town in the underground gallery.
The town of Neckarsteinach on the other side of the river offers the adventurer no less than four ancient fortresses to view. Hirschhorn, another old town, is also worth a trip. The way up to the Carmelite monastery and then to the castle of Hirschhorn with its mighty ramparts winds through narrow streets within the old city wall, most of which has completely survived the ages. From the castle tower you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the valley and the meandering Neckar River below.
Panoramic Tours
Distance from Heidelberg: 20 km to 200 km
Cathedral City of Speyer and the Jewish Ritual Bath – Experience History Up Close
The Speyer Cathedral is one of the most famous church buildings in Germany and is distinguished as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Let its imposing structure fascinate you as you experience this unforgettable as well as spiritual excursion.
Duration of trip: 4 hours
Distance from Heidelberg: 40 km
Here, where bishops have resided, you will be able to dive into spiritual devotion. When the foundation stone was put in place in 1020, the aspiration was to build the largest church structure of its time. It took forty years before it was dedicated. In the years that followed, the cathedral grew in stature and splendor. The crypt serves as the resting place of German emperors, kings and bishops. After visiting them, we will abduct you to the Jewish ritual bath, which was first documented in 1126 and has remained virtually unchanged over the centuries. It is one of the oldest surviving baths of its kind and, therefore, of great cultural and historical worth.
Cathedral City of Speyer
Distance from Heidelberg: 40 km
Exclusive Wine Tasting at the First-Class Clauer Winery
Among the vineyards south of Heidelberg lies Dormenackerhof, the idyllic winery run by the Clauer family. It has been in private hands for over 300 years and five generations, and has received numerous awards.
Duration of wine tasting: 1.5 hours
Distance from Heidelberg: 8 km
No less than eleven wines from this winemaking family have been awarded gold medals by the Wine Cooperative of Baden. The winery also appears in the Gault& Millau, and Falstaff wine guides.
As a guest of VIPTOURS you will be personally greeted by the junior boss himself and introduced to the art of winemaking as well as to the premium league of wines called Sternstunde, which are red and white wines aged in wooden barrels. And what would the knowledge of the pleasures of Bacchus be if these wines were not tasted at this very place? Needless to say, you will be spoiled after touring the cool cellar with its steel tanks and wooden barrels and then enjoying a lovely wine tasting and some delicious Palatine delicacies.
Clauer Winery
Price: € 350*
Distance from Heidelberg: 8 km
*Price for 1-3 persons, prices for 4 and more persons are slighty higher.
Ladenburg – medieval charme meets Roman cultur and Dr. Carl Benz
This little city is a real jewel
Only 20 km from Heidelberg away you will discover with VIPTOURS the idyllic little town of Ladenburg with its medieval city centre, defensive wall, little alleys and typical old German restaurants. Ladenburg was a significant Roman city, first mentioned in the year 74. The Roman history can be lively depicted in the Romas museum Lobdengau, that is situated in the court of the Bishops of Worms. Also the automobile has its roots in Ladenburg: The Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz is dedicated to the inventor of the first car – in the year 1908 the first automobiles rolled out of the factory in Ladenburg.
Ladenburg – medieval charme meets Roman cultur and Dr. Carl Benz
Only 20 km from Heidelberg away you will discover with VIPTOURS the idyllic little town of Ladenburg with its medieval city centre, defensive wall, little alleys and typical old German restaurants. Ladenburg was a significant Roman city, first mentioned in the year 74. The Roman history can be lively depicted in the Romas museum Lobdengau, that is situated in the court of the Bishops of Worms. Also the automobile has its roots in Ladenburg: The Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz is dedicated to the inventor of the first car – in the year 1908 the first automobiles rolled out of the factory in Ladenburg.
Entfernung von HD: 20-200km
Exclusive Tour along the Idyllic Mountain Route
The Bergstrasse (Mountain Route) offers many idyllic places to see. Every spring this route becomes a well-loved destination, especially when the almond trees are in bloom.
Duration of trip: about 4 to 8 hours
Distance from Heidelberg: 20 km to 200 km
But the Bergstrasse is more than just stunning landscape, it is also a special lifestyle. Fortresses, castles and historic city centers between the Jugendstil city of Darmstadt and Heidelberg all let history come alive. For example, in the palace park of Weinheim stands the oldest cedar tree on German soil, and in Auerbach at the Fürstenlager is the tallest giant sequoia. Also, the Bergstrasse is the heart of the UNESCO Geological Park for the Bergstrasse-Odenwald.
From the Idyllic Mountain Route to a Wine Tour
Price: starting at € 390*
Distance from Heidelberg: 20 km to 200 km
*Price for 1-3 persons, prices 4 and more persons are higher.
Entfernung von HD: 20-200km
Wine Tour Drive in the Beautiful Palatinate
On the other side of the Rhine – only a one-hour drive away from Heidelberg – is the wonderful Palatinate region (Pfalz).
Duration of trip: about 4 to 6 hours
Distance from Heidelberg: 20 km to 200 km
The borders of the Pfalz are, to the east, the Rhine, and to the south, the French region of Alsace, while to the west, it borders the smallest German state, the Saarland, and the French region of Lorraine. The Palatinate is characterized by fertile hills covered with vineyards, idyllic villages and famous German wine-makers. Here you will experience hospitality of a kind rarely found elsewhere. In the small, rustic wine taverns and guest houses you can taste Germany’s most famous wines and enjoy the cuisine that is typical for the area.
From the Idyllic Mountain Route to a Wine Tour
Price: starting at € 390*
Distance from Heidelberg: 20 km to 200 km
*Price for 1-3 persons, prices 4 and more persons are higher.
Entfernung von HD: 20-200km
Heiligenberg – From Religious Cult Center to the Daily Life of Benedictine Monks
The Heiligenberg (Saints’ Mountain) lives up to its name. First settled as a cult site by the Celts and then the Romans, the Heiligenberg today shows the first traces of the Christianization of this area at the impressive ruins of St. Michael’s monastery.
Duration of trip: 2.5 hours
Distance from Heidelberg: 10 km
Near another monastery ruin, St. Stephen’s, you will discover the Heidenloch (water well), a mysterious shaft over 50 meters deep. Centuries later the Heiligenberg had another function: it served as the site of an outdoor stage that was built by the Nazis in the style of a Greek theater. This so-called Thingstaette is constructed of stone with seating for 3,000 spectators.
After a short drive we will reach a gem known as Neuburg Abbey. Its history is as fascinating as its setting within a meadow landscape. Its appearance has a peaceful aura. In addition, there is a fantastic view of the Neckar valley, and you will get to peak behind the walls where the Benedictine monks now live.
Heiligenberg
Price: € 370*
Distance from Heidelberg: 10 km
*Price for 1-3 persons, prices 4 and more persons are higher.
ng von HD: 20-200km
SAP Arena in Mannheim
The SAP Arena in Mannheim – Heidelberg’s neighboring city – is Baden-Württemberg’s largest multipurpose arena, which is one of the most modern event halls in Europe.
Thanks to cutting-edge technology, the arena can change from being an ice rink to a handball court, to a concert hall or even a theater stage in no time. You will experience entertainment at the highest level in the SAP Arena, which hosts international stars from the music and show scene, as well as top teams from various sport disciplines. You can arrange your evening according to your wishes with the VIP packages: The dedicated staff at the SAP Arena will be at your service during and after the event, in its exclusive atmosphere. You can choose between Business, Box and Sky Lounge Tickets. VIPTOURS will arrange for your travel and package.
*Price Customized upon request (depending on entertainment offer and seating).
SAP Arena
Personal Training
Embedded in beautiful art deco houses of the Heidelberg area Neuenheim, close to the Neckar River, you find the elegant and privately led health club of Isabelle and her daugher Estelle Baumann.
Apart from a multitude of group classes, indoor cycling and a state of the art weight room, you can also elect to work one-on-one with a certified instructor. Your personal trainer will guide you through your custom workout and ensure you reach all of your fitness goals.
Exclusive boat experience
Escape the daily grind and enjoy time on the water.
The 10-meter-long, luxurious yacht is located in the idyllic harbor basin of the historic cathedral city of Speyer, not far from Heidelberg.
After a short drive on the Rhine, Germany’s longest river, we board the “Blue Lagoon”. Here everything is decelerated, you are one with the waves and can enjoy the beautiful nature reserve with a dip in the water. Incidentally, the experienced skipper, chilled music and refreshing prosecco are also on board – a perfect idea also for a very special wedding application or as a small team-building event (maximum 4 people).
Included in the package: transfer from Heidelberg to Speyer.
Be guest with VIPTOURS at the German Champion league club TSG Hoffenheim!
The stadion PreZero Arena as your special event location will meet all your expectations!
Experience with VIPTOURS the stunning PreZero Arena as a unique event location for your business conference or a private celebration. The PreZero Arena is the home ground of the TSG Hoffenheim soccer club (German Premier Division). The business club is a modern suite of rooms extending over several levels. With its open architectural style, it offers almost unlimited flexibility – for smaller gatherings, larger meetings enhanced by open spaces or simultaneous separate events. The choice is yours.
Be guest with VIPTOURS at the German Champion league club TSG Hoffenheim!
Experience with VIPTOURS the stunning PreZero Arena as a unique event location for your business conference or a private celebration. The PreZero Arena is the home ground of the TSG Hoffenheim soccer club (German Premier Division). The business club is a modern suite of rooms extending over several levels. With its open architectural style, it offers almost unlimited flexibility – for smaller gatherings, larger meetings enhanced by open spaces or simultaneous separate events. The choice is yours.
".... we immediately like Vera. She is very friendly and speaks English!!! Vera is very knowledgeable about her city and showed us places, that tourists may not be able to know about. She also recommended places to eat, which is a plus with us because we are foodies. We decided to extend our stay and asked her if she's available. And we were happy that she was. Vera also wrote books about Heidelberg: Fascinating Heidelberg, A journey Through Time & Heidelberg Compact. If you ever want to go to Heidelberg, you must contact her."
"We enjoyed the Heidelberg Tour together with our business guests with Vera. Even Heidelberg natives got to know a lot more about this beautiful city and will remember this evening forever.
Vera is speaking English and German fluently and is a very friendly, professional and communicative person.
We absolutely want to recommend VIP Tours also for business visits to show the industry city Heidelberg from another perspective."
"...Vera was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable of Heidelberg and the surrounding area. In the morning, we did a short tour of old town Heidelberg and Heidelberg Castle, which are both quite enchanting on their own, but our experience was greatly enhanced by a knowledgeable guide like Vera. Vera was quite astute at determining how much we wanted to know and about which topics we were particularly interested. After having an authentic, delicious lunch at a restaurant she recommended, we met at our hotel that afternoonn to embark on a tour of Schwetzingen Palace which is just outside the city (20 min). Vera's Jeep is large and comfortable and the drive was pleasant. Vera's access to park within the palace gates was a nice perk. The gardens were amazing even though, being it was November in Germany, they were not at their peak. We walked the gardens with Vera while she offered wonderful little bits of information. So pleased Vera recommended this gem otherwise we would have certainly missed it. What a wonderful day in Heidelberg!"
"...Une mention très spéciale pour Vera, notre guide qui a vraiment été top. La visite du château accompagnée de la dégustation de vin était géniale. Nous avons également pu discuter avec le chef étoilé du restaurant du château. En soirée, Vera nous a organisé un super restaurant et nous a véhiculé. Le lendemain, elle nous a organisé un cours de sport dans un fitness local, vraiment top."
"Vera was very knowledgeable and her English was excellent. Not only that, she knew everybody in town! We felt like we were touring with the mayor of Heidelberg. She was able to get us into a sold out white night party at the Castle. She also has access to some places in most other tour guides don't. Last but not least she has a great sense of humor which we found is very rare in these parts."
Photo Gallery
Vera Cornelius-Lambert with the US actor Richard Dreyfuss
Vera Cornelius-Lambert with the Irish singer-songwriter Chris de Burgh
Vera Cornelius-Lambert with the German actors Christoph Maria Herbst
& Annette Frier 2017 at the making of the TV serie “Hotel Heidelberg”
VIPTOURS SUV Jeep Grand Cherokee
exclusive winetasting at the Heidelberg Castle
VIPTOUR to palace & garden in Schwetzingen
Culinary partners Heidelberg
Culinary partners area
Cultural partners
Partner sport and event
Personal Shopping
Media partner
Jewelry partner
Vera Cornelius Consult
Thank you for your interest in my tours. I`m looking forward to plan your individual offer.
Also I offer marketing consultancy www.heidelberg-consult.de
I look forward to seeing you soon, Vera Cornelius-Lambert