Heidelberg Castle

Heidelberger Schloss

A half-ruined red sandstone Renaissance castle and a symbol of German Romanticism, home to one of the largest wine casks in the world.

Heidelberg Castle sits on the slopes of the Königstuhl, about 80 meters above the Old Town. It was once the palace of the Prince-Electors of the Palatinate and was expanded over several centuries. In the late 17th century French troops blew it up, and in 1764 it was struck by lightning, after which it remained in ruins. That ruined state drew Goethe, Mark Twain and the Romantic poets, and it became a symbol of Germany’s Romantic Road. Highlights include the Renaissance facades of the Ottheinrich Palace and the Friedrich Palace with their statues; the Pulverturm (Powder Tower), split in two by the explosion; the Heidelberg Tun in the cellar, a cask holding about 220,000 liters whose top platform you can climb; the German Pharmacy Museum; and panoramic views over the Old Town and the Neckar from the castle terrace. Admission covers the courtyards, the Great Tun, the Pharmacy Museum and a return ride on the Bergbahn funicular to the Old Town (roughly 10 euros, subject to the official website). Guided tours of the palace interiors cost extra. You can take the funicular one stop from Kornmarkt in the Old Town, or walk up the steep path in about 15 minutes.

Heidelberg Castle

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