Explorations of a city famous for its romantic castle and gorgeous Old Town.
Heidelberg is located in the Neckar River valley in Southwestern Germany. The narrow valley effected how Heidelberg grew. The Old Town is quite narrow due to the steep hills on both sides of the river. However, those hills are a great place to put a castle.
Heidelberg Castle is the city’s main attraction. Even though it is probably much older, Heidelberg Castle was gradually expanded and repaired (lots of sieges) in the 16th-17th centuries. The rulers of the Palatinate had been using it as the main location for their court. They left the castle sometime in the 1700s and then it caught on fire. It was left in ruins (which became popular during the Romantic period of art) until a restoration in the late 1800s. Only one portion was completely restored. Other parts of the castle were preserved in their ruined state.
Jana Irving Heidelberg Castle looms over the city.
Jana Irving A very impressive tower gate.
Jana Irving The castle’s moat is huge. It fit whole buildings in it. Couldn’t find out what it was though.
Jana Irving Schlosshof, the castle’s courtyard.
Jana Irving The restored Friedrichsbau (Friedrich’s Wing). It’s the best preserved section of the castle, so it was fully restored. Built in the early 1600s, it had the chapel on the first floor and the prince’s apartments above it. The ruined building on the left, Ottheinrichsbau (Ottheinrich’s Wing) has only had a couple floors restored.
Jana Irving The castle is a whole mish-mash of buildings from different eras.
Jana Irving Ottheinrich’s Wing (15th century) has a really cool facade and a Pharmacy Museum in the basement.
Jana Irving The museum has pharmacy furnishings from other locations. This one is from Benedictine monastery of Schwarzach/Rheinmünster, around 1730. It was a really good museum.
Jana Irving The Big Barrel (1751) was the fourth giant barrel in the cellar of the castle. It can hold 219,000 liters. It’s not leak proof so there isn’t any wine in there today. Woman at the bottom of the barrel for size.
Jana Irving There’s a balcony in the back of the castle with fantastic views of Heidelberg.
I went on the English tour. It takes you to some of the closed off areas of the castle. However, it could have been easily visited without one if that was an option. I felt that it went a bit too fast.
Jana Irving The ruined English Building, named for whom it was built, Elizabeth Stuart (daughter of James I of England.).
Jana Irving The reconstructed doors are insane.
Jana Irving A few rooms have been restored to the Renaissance period. Nothing special.
Jana Irving The chapel is a bit fancier.
Jana Irving The Powder Tower, which was blown up by the French in 1693.
Jana Irving The castle had a terraced formal garden in the 1600s. Great place to get some views of the castle.
Jana Irving Another angle on that exploded tower.
Jana Irving Down the hill to see the rest of Heidelberg’s Old Town.
Jana Irving That’s a bold color scheme.
Jana Irving The castle ruins from Karlsplatz.
Jana Irving Heidelberger Marktplatz (Market Square) and Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit).
Jana Irving That’s some good Gothic there.
Jana Irving The church has been renovated multiple times due to fire, water damage, and bombing. Still wonderful.
Jana Irving Alte Brücke (Old Bridge).
Jana Irving Which has a giant gate, the Stadttor.
Jana Irving University of Heidelberg buildings on the right. It’s the oldest university in Germany (founded in 1386).
Jana Irving The Library (left) and Great Hall, the assembly hall for the university.
Jana Irving Ending with this gorgeous building.
Heidelberg Castle was really cool. I really enjoyed walking around town as well. There’s also a bunch of museums that I didn’t visit. So there is even more to this great German city, including its outskirts.
Check out my next update where I visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Speyer!
or
Start at the beginning of this European adventure!
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