Schloss Heidelberg

Heidelberg Schloss (back side of castle)

We went on our first castle adventure.  We were debating which castle to go to first...we wanted it to be one that was close since we don't really know the area all that well. There are so many to choose from really close to us so we asked around and got a few suggestions.



 

the Turret partially collapsed

So we decided on the castle in Heidelberg. I must say this was a great choice. We chose to drive to the castle instead of the train (we went in December so it wasn't terribly crowded). When we walked up I was a bit intimidated. We apparently parked at the bottom of the hill (in a parking garage)...and the walk up to the castle was STEEP but it was cobblestone so you had some friction. I can report none of us fell and that is quite amazing.

We loved this statue...it made us laugh.  I am sure it was absolutely stunning when it was first constructed.  The grotto is in the back right corner of this picture.

These pictures do not do this castle justice.  We decided to pay the fee to get inside the courtyards and I am so glad we did.  It was breath-taking.  They even had this massive wine barrel (the Heidelberg Tun aka Großes Fass)...it was so huge but of course everyone was gathered around it so it was hard to get a good picture.

the inside of the courtyard

All throughout the inside of the courtyard, baby boy kept pointing and saying "Castle!"  It is pretty safe to say he was impressed.  We did the German pharmacy museum...it was quite spectacular as well but had signs posted asking for no photos (wonder if that meant no photos at all or just not with flash since I recall a great number of pictures being taken by visitors).  Either way I made memories and I will be doing it again.  Definitely a trip worth making.  I have also heard their firework show is one to be seen so we will have to make it a point to go again to catch this sight.