Heidelberg Palace

Information and History

The rich and eventful history of Heidelberg Palace began when the counts palatine of the Rhine, – later prince electors – established their residence at Heidelberg. First mentioned in 1225, this was destined to become one of the grandest palaces of the Renaissance.

Until the Thirty Years’ War, Heidelberg Palace boasted one of the most notable ensembles of buildings in the Holy Roman Empire. In brisk succession, the prince electors commissioned a series of imposing constructions. Each one is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Their magnificent façades create a resplendent frame for the courtyard. In the late 17th century, the palace was repeatedly attacked and ultimately destroyed by the French in the War of the Grand Alliance.

These catastrophic events are commemorated in a spectacular fireworks display, held several times each year. In 1764, after some makeshift repairs, the battered palace was heavily damaged again: this time by the forces of Nature, in the form of two devastating lightning strikes. The once-proud residence caught fire – and was left in ruins. The 19th century brought a new wave of admiration: a sight both terrible and beautiful, the ruins epitomised the spirit of the Romantic movement. Heidelberg Palace was elevated to a national monument.

The imposing edifice and its famous garden, the Hortus Palatinus, became shrouded in myth. The garden, the last work commissioned by the prince electors, was never completed. Some remaining landscaped terraces and other vestiges hint at the awe-inspiring scale of this ambitious project. In the 17th century, it was celebrated as the “eighth wonder of the world”. While time has taken its toll, Heidelberg Palace’s fame lives on to this day.

Visitor Information

For opening times and detailed visitor information go to:  www.schloss-heidelberg.de/en/visitor-information

Trivia

• Each year, Heidelberg Palace attracts around a million visitors from all over the world.
• Since the early 19th century, these impressive ruins have been synonymous with Romanticism.