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Heidelberg Castle is one of Germany’s iconic destinations – for good reason. The main gate is breathtaking. The interior architecture is magnificent. It sits high on a hill above Heidelberg and the Neckar River and is packed with history.
If you’ve never visited, you should. If you’ve already been, here are six more reasons to entice you to go again. Because even though Heidelberg Castle is one of Germany’s most popular tourist destinations, it still contains plenty of mystery!
1. There are two ways up, and at least one is fun(icular)
If you’re into medieval exercise, then the walk from the city center to the castle can be fun. Visitors work their way up a concrete path that goes straight up the hill — none of this newfangled constant switchback stuff. Which means that, by the time you finish covering the 260-foot vertical distance, you’ll be breathing like a knight dressed in chain mail.
A less sweaty option involves taking the funicular railway from the Kornmarkt to the Castle. It’s fun, easy, and riders can also buy a ticket that includes castle admission. As a bonus, you can shake your head at the struggling walkers below.
2. There is a really enormous wine vat
You may have heard of the Heidelberg Tun, which was built in 1751 and which looks like something called a Tun would look. It is a massive, 58,000-gallon, wooden wine vat that hasn’t held as much wine as one might think (because, honestly, lugging that much wine up an 18th century hill would have been very difficult).
Yet, the Tun is a must-see. In its way, it is a marvel of human ingenuity. And it makes the mind wander to all sorts of unexpected places. As in, how was this Tun the third one that the medieval royals built, and why did they think the first two (both of which were also massive) were too small?
3. A cup of water allegedly killed a court jester
It is true that, prior to the 20th century, water was more dangerous than wine or beer (think cholera and a lack of motorized vehicles). Still, one has to feel sorry for poor Perkeo, an 18th-century court jester for Prince-Elector Carl Philipp von der Pfalz. According to legend, Perkeo was an expert wine drinker who could, ahem, polish off thousands of liters of wine without problem.
And so it was, then, that drinking a cup of water supposedly did him in. No one is quite sure what exactly happened, but it is certain that the prankster was missed by the Prince-Elector and his hangers-on. No one is sure, either, whether the ghost of Perkeo is still haunting the Tun…
4. The castle is kind of a naturalist’s paradise
There are protected animals that make their homes in the Castle. Bats love it, including the tiny pipistrelle bat, as well as the large mouse-eared bat. If you’re lucky, you can also spot European toads, Alpine newts, and fire salamanders.
Heidelberg Castle also contains an Paleozoic-era rock outcropping, known as a geotope, that geology buffs rave about. Toss in beautiful trees, manicured gardens and other greenery, and the castle starts to feel even more magical.
5. It has an awesome festival every summer
We’re talking plays, musicals, concerts, illuminations, artisans, food, and drinks! And, of course, all of it is set in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. As a bonus, the fun lasts for most of June and July.
So if you’re thinking about a summer visit, do a little research in advance. Being festive at the Heidelberg Castle Festival is an unforgettable experience.
6. You probably won’t get hit by lightning
Okay, the logic here is admittedly shaky, but it’s based on the fact that lightning has already struck the castle… twice. The two most famous lightning strikes — in the 16th and 18th centuries, respectively — did a lot of damage: both of them led to fires and the subsequent destruction of many structures.
The castle was rebuilt both times, of course. And those efforts led, in part, to the incredible place that is so famous today!
Getting there
By car, Heidelberg is an hour from Kaiserslautern, an hour from Wiesbaden, and 1.5 hours from Stuttgart. Please check the Deutsche Bahn website for train details.
