Visiting Heidelberg Castle

Wandering the altstadt is like stepping into a storybook

The German version of the phrase, ‘Don’t miss the forest for the trees,’ could arguably be ‘Don’t miss the famous castle for the bargains at the end of the Weinachtmarkt.’

Getting into town after sunset, we had a delicious dinner at the Pälmbrau Gasse and then wandered over to see the remains of the holiday market near the Rathaus.

Entranced with the hand-painted Turkish ceramics and silver jewelry, I went back to the hotel wondering where the famous Schloss Heidelberg was, actually.

I got my answer when we walked through the same plaza the next morning. Hint: Look up.

Towering above the center of the old city, The castle ruin sits 80 meters up the side of the Königstühl (King’s Chair) a 500-meter high foothill at the edge of the Odenwald Mountsains.

Originally constructed in the early 13th century as the residence for the Counts Palatine of the Rhine, the castle complex was expanded to actually consist of two castles at different elevations.

Despite its grandeur and location, the palace be…