Heidelberg Castle in Autumn 🇩🇪🍁 Full Tour [4k]

Heidelberg Castle in Autumn 🇩🇪🍁 Full Tour [4k]

Heidelberg Castle: A Tapestry of Time. Nestled in the gentle folds of Germany’s Neckar Valley,
where the Odenwald forests meet the Rhine Plain, Heidelberg Castle stands as a monument to history’s triumphs and tragedies. Its red sandstone walls, rising 330 feet above the river, have witnessed centuries of ambition, destruction, and rebirth. This is the story of a fortress turned palace, a ruin turned icon, and the city that cradles it— – a tale of princes, poets, and the enduring spirit of Romanticism. Our journey begins in the early 13th century, when the Counts Palatine of the Rhine first carved a stronghold into the Königstuhl hill. By 1225, the castle was a defensive bastion,
its earliest stones laid to guard the Palatinate’s power in the Holy Roman Empire. It served as the seat of the Electoral Palatinate for centuries,
a key power center in the Holy Roman Empire. There used to be seven seats that elected the holy roman emperor. Heidelberg was one of those seats. Others are in Trier, Mainz and Cologne for example. Over time, the castle transformed into a dazzling Renaissance residence under the Wittelsbach dynasty. Elector Ruprecht III, crowned King of Germany in 1400, expanded it into a royal seat. The 16th-century Ottheinrichsbau, built between 1556 and 1559, became a masterpiece of German Renaissance architecture. Its intricate sandstone facades depicting its namesake as a Roman emperor. The early 17th-century Friedrichsbau added Baroque elegance, with statues of 16 Elector ancestors standing sentinel over the courtyard. Yet, this grandeur was not to last. The Thirty Years’ War saw the castle sacked in 1622 by Imperial forces under General Tilly. And French bombardments during the Nine Years’ War (1689–1693) left it a smoldering ruin. Lightning strikes in 1537 and 1764 further scarred its walls. And by 1720, when the court abandoned it for Mannheim, locals began quarrying its stones. The castle’s bones left standing on that hill on the Neckar river. It was only in the 19th century, through the efforts of Romantics like Count Graimberg, that preservation began. Its status cemented as a “terrible yet beautiful” ruin, as Victor Hugo described in 1838. Mark Twain, Goethe, and J.M.W. Turner all fell under its spell, with Twain noting in *A Tramp Abroad* its “royal” allure. Today, it draws a million visitors yearly, a symbol of Germany’s layered past. The view from the terrace on that wonderful city of Heidelberg. From the castle’s Great Terrace, the view unfolds like a Romantic painting. Perched 80 to 100 meters above the Neckar,
the panorama sweeps across Heidelberg’s Baroque Old Town. Red-roofed gables and the spires of Heiliggeistkirche gleam against the river’s curve. A scene that fits modern concepts like “Harry Potter”, Dark Academia and perhaps even Steampunk. The 18th-century Old Bridge arches gracefully below,
and on clear days, the Rhine Plain stretches to the distant Black Forest. Across the river, the Philosophers’ Walk—or Philosophenweg—offers the reverse perspective. A 2-kilometer trail along the Heiligenberg
where 19th-century thinkers like Hegel and Schelling strolled. Named for engraver Matthäus Merian’s iconic etchings, this “Merian View” frames the castle’s jagged silhouette against the Old Town and vineyards, evoking Tuscany with its cypresses and figs. Goethe wandered here, inspired by its serenity, and today’s visitors find it a perfect spot for springtime blooms or evening reflections of the lit castle, a UNESCO-worthy vista of Romantic heritage. The Castle and the Moat. Within the castle’s grounds lies a hidden relic of its defensive past: the Hirschgraben, or Deer Moat. And it was not a traditional moat filled with water. Invisible from below due to the forested slopes,
this 20-meter-deep dry chasm was dug in the 16th century. It once guarded against sieges and housed deer for hunting. Designed by Salomon de Caus, these terraces blended military utility with pleasure, their cannon platforms doubling as garden overlooks. Flanked by towers like the exploded Powder Tower of 1689, the moat’s casemates and ivy-clad drops evoke Twain’s “abysses where twilight reigns.” At the heart of the castle lies its cobblestoned courtyard. A 100-by-50-meter stage where medieval hustle meets Renaissance splendor. Entered via a 1528 stone bridge. The courtyrad once buzzed with court life and now hosts concerts.
And weddings from time to time. Like today, by coincidence? The Ruprecht’s Wing, with its 13th-century Gothic vaults, speaks of Elector Ruprecht III’s era. While the roofless Ottheinrichsbau dazzles with mythological carvings. The Ottheinrich Building in Heidelberg Castle is considered one of the most beautiful – and earliest palace buildings of the German Renaissance. The elaborate figural decoration on the facade was created by the sculptor Alexander Colin. Ancient heroes, Roman emperors and Christian virtues befitting a ruler are depicted. The Friedrichsbau’s restored interiors and “stone genealogy” statues contrast the functional Ladies’ and Economy Wings, Their Gothic windows a mystery choice by Elector Johann Kasimir. At the center, the dry Prince’s Well once fed the court,
near arcades of the Gläserner Saalbau where feasts unfolded. The Great Big Wine Barrel of Heidelberg. In the castle’s Barrel Building, the Great Heidelberg Tun looms as a monument to excess. It was built in 1751 by Elector Karl Theodor to store wine tithes from 1,800 Palatinate growers. A 7-meter-high, 8.5-meter-wide barrel, crafted from 90 to 130 oak trees,
held 221,726 liters—enough for 292,000 bottles. The fourth in a series of ever-larger tuns
it was filled only thrice before leaks retired it as a tourist icon. Its dance platform once hosted court balls – Imagine dancing a waltz here, on a wine barrel in a German castle! But its true star was Perkeo. Perkeo, the Tyrolean dwarf and jester. He was born Clemens Pankert in 1702. Perkeo was appointed guardian of the tun in 1718. His nickname “Perkeo” came from his cheery “perché no?” – “And why not?” – approach to wine. Legend claims he drank 5 to 8 gallons daily, his wit and thirst amusing the court. Until his death at 33 – supposedly from a doctor’s fatal prescription of water. Perkeo has been immortalized in a statue, a 1863 song,
and local festivals, Perkeo remains Heidelberg’s mischievous mascot. Raise your glass of Riesling while dancing on the Great Heidelberg Tun. And why not? German Pharmacy Museum. Beneath the Ottheinrichsbau, the German Pharmacy Museum, founded in 1938, offers a journey through 2,000 years of healing. Housed in vaulted cellars,
its 20,000 artifacts trace pharmacy from prehistoric herbs to 19th-century labs. Visitors marvel at 10 period rooms, including an 1800s Ulm pharmacy in cherry wood. And colorful maiolica vessels, mortars, and oddities like powdered unicorn horn. Tied to pharmacist Philipp Sprenger’s innovations – – the museum’s “secret chamber” vibe and steam-powered lab might evoke a “light shudder”. Remedies from superstition to science. Your Practical Guide to Heidelberg. Heidelberg is easy to reach from Frankfurt or Stuttgart,
each just an hour away by train or car. The main station connects with Germany’s high-speed ICE network. Once here, you can explore easily on foot, tram, or bus. Best Time to Visit:
Heidelberg is beautiful year-round, but autumn is truly magical. From late September to early November, the crowds fade and the colors glow. December brings the Christmas Market, filling the old streets with lights. Quick Facts:
Population: about 160,000, with 30,000 students. University founded in 1386 — Germany’s oldest. Castle first mentioned in 1225, mostly destroyed in the 1690s. Main Street: 1.6 kilometers long. Where to Stay:
For backpackers: Steffi’s Hostel, central and cozy. Mid-range: Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg, a Baroque landmark. Luxury: Europäischer Hof, a family-run five-star with rooftop views. Unique: Guesthouses along the river or in the Königstuhl forest. Tips for Visitors:
Get the HeidelbergCARD for transport, castle entry, and discounts. Rent a bike for a scenic ride along the Neckar. Take a short river cruise for a fresh perspective. Book castle tickets online during busy seasons.

Step into Castle of Heidelberg. From Perkeo to the Pharmacy museum, from the terraces to the deer moat. It is the golden season of Heidelberg — a city where history, romance, and autumn light meet on the banks of the Neckar River.
🇩🇪 Romantic Moselle Valley, a dream come true :: https://youtu.be/J6rmE-_HbBk
🇩🇪 Rothenburg ob der Tauber :: https://youtu.be/GZQm_XE3vEY
🇩🇪 The Romantic Road of Bavaria :: https://youtu.be/gpdFXYB9o4k

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📍 Locations: Heidelberg Castle🎧 Style: Relaxed narration • Cinematic visuals • Historical storytelling
#Heidelberg #Autumn #Germany #Foliage #GermanyTravel #TravelDocumentary #HeidelbergCastle #AutumnInEurope #RomanticRoad #WalkingTour #EuropeTravel #documentary #castle #architecture

Chapters ::
00:00 Heidelberg Caste in Autumn
01:02 Terraces of Heidelberg Castle
11:16 The Moat
14:43 The Courtyard
23:04 Perkeo and the Wine Barrel of Heidelberg
30:21 German Pharmacy Museum
40:51 Views over the River

Music ::

Artist’s Name / Title of Music Piece / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com.
Ruiqi Zhao / Liquid Aurora
Megan Wofford / Come Spring
Lo Mimieux / Jamais Perdu
Jon Bjork / Through Thick and Thin
Ruiqi Zhao / The Elf Led me to you
Ecobel / Souls of SeoulRymdklang Soundtracks / Morning Dew