Stuttgart Attractions

Heidelberg Castle is a famous castle ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg. The castle ruins are among the most important renaissance structures north of the Alps and provide for a romantic setting. The castle has only been partially rebuilt since its demolition in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is located 80 metres (260 ft) up the N part of the Königstuhl hillside, and therefore dominates the view of the old downtown. It is served by an intermediate station on the Heidelberger Bergbahn funicular railway that runs from Heidelberg's Kornmarkt to the summit of the Königstuhl. The earliest of the castle structures was built before AD 1214 and later expanded into 2 castles around 1294; however, in 1537, a lightning-bolt destroyed the upper castle. The present structures had been expanded by 1650, before damage by later wars and fires. The castle is constan...