R&R on the Rhine - Heidelberg Castle

R&R on the Rhine - Memphis to Amsterdam
R&R on the Rhine - Viking Bestla
R&R on the Rhine - Amsterdam
R&R on the Rhine - Kinderdijk
R&R on the Rhine - Cologne
R&R on the Rhine - Marksburg Castle
R&R on the Rhine - Upper Rhine Valley
R&R on the Rhine - Rüdesheim
R&R on the Rhine - Heidelberg Castle
R&R on the Rhine - Heidelberg and Speyer
R&R on the Rhine - Strasbourg
R&R on the Rhine - Black Forest
R&R on the Rhine - Colmar
R&R on the Rhine - Zurich Day 1
R&R on the Rhine - Zurich Day 2
R&R on the Rhine - Zurich to Memphis

Our next stop was the university town of Heidelberg. Our longship docked in Worms (though in Germany it's pronounced Vurms) and we hopped on motorcoaches that took us into town and up the hill to Heidelberg Castle.  There we gained a tour guide who was a university student.


The castle as viewed from town

The earliest version of the castle was built before 1214 and later that century it was expanded into two castles.  But in 1537 a lightning bolt destroyed the upper castle.  The structures pictured here were in place by 1650 though they've been damaged by water and fires.  Its most famous resident was King Frederick V who married Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of James VI of Scotland (aka James I of England) in 1613. He began the enormous task of creating level grounds around the castle as he wished to have gardens for his wife.  Only a few years later he lost the crown and was forced to flee the area.

Interior walls

The courtyard walls demonstrate the different architecture from different eras.

The Schloss was abandoned over 300 years ago but is still home to the world's largest wine barrel - though it's long been empty.  It is 250 years old, shaped from 130 oak trees and once held 50,000 gallons of wine!

There was even a dance floor on top of the barrel!

From the Schloss there are lovely views of the town and the river.

Then it was time to take the bus down the hill to the town of Heidelberg.