iL-Inside
September 11, 2025
iL company outing: Rain,
slowness and harmony
Company outings and Christmas parties are traditionally an integral part of the InnovationLab team's annual calendar: this time, the trip on the "White Fleet" took us from the Heidelberg Stadthalle up the Neckar to Neckarsteinach. The trip on the excursion boat "MS Alt Heidelberg" was relaxed, cozy, communicative and harmonious.
By boat to Neckarsteinach and back to Heidelberg: the InnovationLab team enjoys this year's company outing. Pictures: InnovationLab
View from the castles
On the way there, it poured with rain. But together with many Heidelberg tourists, the iL group didn't let the rain spoil their good mood. After an hour and a half, the picturesque four-castle town, which lies at the southern tip of Hesse, was easily reached. After brief deliberation, the group decided to brave the weather and visit Mittelburg Castle, Vorderburg Castle (only visible from the outside), Hinterburg Castle and Schadeck Castle (swallow's nest). The view from the tower of the Hinterburg and the swallow's nest integrated into the rocky landscape is always impressive.
iL newcomer Jessica "Jessy" Amann made a brief appearance at a dizzying height as a damsel of the castle - and mastered it just as calmly and confidently as her tasks in the office and modern office tower in Speyerer Straße. The almost two-hour tour through the mystical Neckarsteinach forest and the Neckar landscape shrouded in a light mist had its own charm. We talked about God and the world - for example about the Middle Ages, the local former minstrel Bligger von Steinach, the four castles and their respective locations and beauty, today's inhabitants of the small town of just under 4,000 inhabitants, which has a harp in its coat of arms, as well as various leisure activities and anecdotes.
The team and the two "captains" Michael Kröger and Uli Lemmer fortified themselves with culinary delights at the "Zum Schwanen" restaurant, not far from the harbor. The atmosphere was just right here too.
Schadeck Castle - also known as the Swallow's Nest: Here, the view sweeps over the Neckar valley - and iL Managing Director Michael Kröger, a true castle fan, greets you warmly from above. Pictures: InnovationLab
The senses are sharpened
And suddenly the sky cleared - perfect timing for the return trip to Heidelberg. On the upper deck of the 48-metre-long, nine-metre-wide, 600-person gallery ship "Alt Heidelberg" (the service staff looked familiar!), sunglasses were promptly unpacked over a cup of coffee. And depending on the wind conditions, cloud formations and temperature fluctuations, we adjusted our choice of clothing. From the old town of Neckargemünd, a modern "damsel of the castle" (the name is known to the editors) even waved to us from the balcony - with great excitement. The cell phone facilitated clearer communication ...
Through two locks - and the old town of Heidelberg, including the castle ruins and other magnificent buildings to the left and right of the Neckar, approaches in slow motion.
The iL team is in complete agreement before going ashore at Pier IV: Neckarsteinach, the meanders of the Neckar, the rediscovery of slowness on the spacious "MS Alt Heidelberg", the ensemble of the castle, Old Bridge and Old Town, rowers, swans and ducks, paragliders over the local mountain Königstuhl etc. - it is a special area and home where we are all allowed to live and work. We sometimes forget this.
In this respect, the company outing sharpened the senses in more ways than one. And the low sun in the late afternoon drew the ten pairs of iL eyes to late summer colors - on the water as well as on land!
Return journey and arrival back at Pier IV: the iL team on the upper deck is in the right mood. And the time-honored university city is illuminated as a reward in the late afternoon - on the water as well as on land. Pictures: InnovationLab
Joachim Klaehn
Head of Communications
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