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Welcome
to the Heidelberg castle
where
your wedding dreams come true
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- THE
HEIDELBERG CASTLE, one of the most impressive historic landmarks of Germany,
rises majestically over the
- roofs
of the old town with a breathtaking
- view
of the river Neckar that flows through
- the
deep wooded valley.
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Some
historical facts:
It was Prince Elector Ruprecht III (1398 - 1410) who had erect
the first representative building as a regal residence in the inner courtyard.
The exterior of the building, divided into a ground floor made of stone and
framework upper levels, seems quite unpretentious today. Another regal building is located opposite to the Ruprecht Building: the
Fountain Hall. Prince Elector Philipp (1476 - 1508) is said to have arranged the
transfer of the hall’s columns from a decayed palace of Charlemagne to
Heidelberg. The Prince Electors of the 16th and 17th century turned the fortress
into a castle and added two representative palace buildings to the complex.
Another regal building is located opposite to the Ruprecht Building: the
Fountain Hall. Prince Elector Philipp (1476 - 1508) is said to have arranged the
transfer of the hall’s columns from a decayed palace of Charlemagne to
Heidelberg. The Prince Electors of the 16th and 17th century turned the fortress
into a castle and added two representative palace buildings to the complex.
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Kupferstich
von Matthäus Merian, 1645
Quelle:
Debon, Günther. Das Heidelberger Jahr Joseph von Eichendorffs.
Heidelberg, 1996. S. 79. |
| The two dominant buildings at the eastern and northern side of the courtyard
were erected during the rule of Ottheinrich (1556 - 1559) and Friedrich IV (1583
- 1610). Today, they are considered to be two of the most important buildings in
German architectural history.
Under Friedrich V (1613 - 1619), the main building of the westside was
erected, the so called "English Building". The Castle and its garden were
destroyed, however, during the 30 Years' War. Later, it was rebuilt by Prince
Elector Karl Ludwig (1649 - 1680), only to be destroyed once again by French
troops. Prince Elector Karl Theodor who resided in Schwetzingen tried to restore
the castle to make it inhabitable once again, but in vain.
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Lightning struck the Castle in 1764. In the centuries that followed, the
Castle was misused as a quarry - castle stones helped to build new houses in
Heidelberg. This was stopped in 1800 by Count Charles de Graimberg who made any
effort he could to preserve the Heidelberg Castle. In spite of its Gothic
interior, it was not before 1934, that the King’s Hall was added.
- Before the Thirty Years War, contemporaries
considered the Castle Gardens ("Hortus Palatinus") as being the "Eighth Wonder of the
World."
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The Highlight on
your wedding could be the marriage ceremony in the romantic
castle chapel.
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