The castle (Part 1)

The castle of Heidelberg is a place steeped in history. It is located on a plateau of the mountain Königstuhl, above the river Neckar. The first documentary evidence of the castle goes back to the 13th century, during the times of the bishops of Worms. Two fortresses were already built around 1303. One was located on the mountain Gaisberg, which was the upper fortress. The other was located at the same place like today's castle.

When Rudolf II. (1306 - 1353) became the first Palatine elector in 1329, the fortress was extended to his medieval ancestral seat. The building was already extended by Ruprecht I. (1309 -1390), who was also founder of the university of Heidelberg. He was responsible for enlarging the defence walls, as well as ordering bigger residential buildings.

The following electors had been continuing to extend the castle for representation purposes. Towers and big walls were build for prevention against invaders. "Ruprechtsbau", "Ludwigsbau", the glazed hall ("Gläserner Saal") and the library were mostly used for representing richness and power.

Elector Ottheinrich (1502 - 1559) was responsible for building the "Ottheinrichsbau", an early Renaissance building with a splendid façade. At this time the view of the building was changing from a simple fortress into a castle. Several extensions were developed in the following years, like "Friedrichsbau", the English building ("Englischer Bau") and a garden named "Hortus Paltinus", which is located on three terraces. You can find a lot of exotic plants, labyrinths, grottos, pleasure grounds and small houses for romantic dates in this wonderful park. Therefore it was called the 8th wonder of the world, although it was never finished.

The political entanglements around elector Friedrich V. (1596 - 1632) were the reason for starting the Thirty Years' War. These times were dangerous for the unsuccessful ruler, the city of Heidelberg and the castle. Friedrich V. lost his title, the castle and the environs were assaulted and seriously damaged. Karl I. Ludwig, the son of Friedrich V., became the new ruler of Heidelberg in 1649. He was able to bring back some of the electoral privileges when the Peace of Westphalia was made in 1648. The elector started the reconstruction of his residence, but was limited by not having enough financial resources.