Page 76 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

74 EUROPE Heidelberg Castle

Towering over the city, this majestic red sandstone
structure is a vast residential complex that was built
•Hamburg between the 12th and 17th centuries. Originally a
TH(. .:C POlAND supremely well-fortified Gothic castle (Gothic Style, see
NlTHlRlANDS Berlin•
1?~:M GERMANY p.54), but now mostly in ruins, this was the seat of the

'f!' House of Wittelsbach palatines. After remodeling in the
F nkfurt •
QHEIDELBE~, 16th century, the castle became one of Germany's most
CASTLE
beautifu I Renaissance residences (Renaissance Style, see Ruprecht Ill's coat
FRANCE
p.131). However, its splendor was extinguished during of arms
the Thirty Years' War (1618-48) and the 1689 war with
HEIDELBERG ROMANTICISM France, when most of the structure was destroyed.
Heidelberg is widely held to be Germany's
most romantic city and Heidelberg Castle
was a favorite target of early 19th-century
~ Ottheinri<h's
revisionism, with poets such as Achim von Palace
Arnim, Clemens Brentano, Ludwig Gorres,
Bell Tower
and Joseph von Eichendorff recasting it as
Erected in the early 15th
the cradle of German Romanticism. The ruins century, this tower was
came to symbolize the artistic, intellectual, and remodeled frequently in
subsequent years.
political return to Germany's national roots that
the poets so much wanted to see. It was during
this period that Count Charles de Graimberg
acted to prevent further looting of stone from
the site in an attempt to preserve the ruins. ~ Friedri<h's Palace
Even today, the sprawling castle complex Dating from 1601-07, this is one of
the most recent parts of the castle.
provides an extraordinarily majestic scene.
Inside are statues of members of the
Since being destroyed by the French in the Wittelsbach dynasty, including
17th century, this once-important residence is Charles the Great.
regarded as Germany's most palatial ruin.

RUPRECHT Ill
One of the most important figures in the
history of Heidelberg Castle was Elector
Ruprecht Ill, a member of the Wittelsbach
dynasty. Born in Amberg in 1352, Ruprecht
became Elector of the Palatinate in 1398 and
spearheaded a successful campaign to depose
Wenceslas, the Holy Roman Emperor, in 1400.
Ruprecht was elected emperor in his place,
although his election was not universally
recognized. He died in Oppenheim in 1410,
having failed to restore the crown to its
former glory. Castle moat

STYLISTIC ACCRETIONS
Inside the Gothic-style Ruprecht's Palace,
there are two models of the castle showing
the various additions through the ages. In
1524, Ludwig V added a residential building
known as Ludwig's Palace. The Glazed Palace
( 1549), which is named after its mirrored hall,
symbolizes the architectural transition from
Gothic to Renaissance style. Ottheinrich's
KEY DATES
Palace is a splendid example of German early-
Renaissance architecture, while Friedrich's Mid·1100s 1400 1556-9 1614-19 1689-93 1742-64 1810
Palace has a typical late-Renaissance fa~ade
Constructbn of Ruprecht Ill's Ottheinrich A garden is lhe castle is Reconstruction Attempts are
This was followed by the English Palace. a castle begins palace is built- builds his commissioned destroyed in takes place but made to preserve
The jewel in the crown was undoubtedly the under Count the first use of Renaissance- by Prince-Elector the War of fire destroys the castle ruins.
Palatine Conrad. the castle as a style palace. Friedrich V for the Palatine several buildings.
castle garden of Friedrich V (r. 1613-19), once
royal residence. his wife. Succession.
described as the eighth wonder of the world.