Heidelberg Castle

Heidelberg Castle is a partially ruined hilltop castle overlooking Heidelberg and the Neckar River in southwest Germany. Its surviving structures date from medieval origins through significant Renaissance rebuilding in the 16th century.

The site offers broad views over Heidelberg’s Old Town and the river from the castle terraces and gardens, and contains a mix of ruined walls, ornate Renaissance facades and formal terraces. Notable visitor features include the Renaissance Ottheinrich Building and the castle courtyard used for exhibitions and events.

The complex houses the German Pharmacy Museum with displays of historic apothecary implements and collections relating to the history of medicine. The castle area is compact but steep, and many visitors combine a castle visit with a walk down into the Old Town.

Origins of the site date to the 13th century, with major Renaissance reconstruction in the 16th century; the castle was badly damaged during the War of the Palatine Succession late in the 17th century and subsequently left largely in ruin. Over the 19th and 20th centuries parts were stabilized and converted for museum use.

Perched on a sandstone hill above Heidelberg’s Old Town, the castle overlooks the Neckar valley and is reached by footpaths, steps or the historic funicular from the city center.

• Access and terrain: The castle is reached by a short uphill walk or the historic funicular railway from the Old Town; expect uneven steps and cobbled paths on site.
• Best viewpoints: The hilltop terraces and the castle courtyard are the prime viewpoints for photography of the Old Town and the Neckar valley.

What to See #

• Ottheinrich Building (Ottheinrichsbau): A Renaissance palace wing built in 1556-1558 that is one of the earliest and finest examples of German Renaissance architecture within the complex.
• German Pharmacy Museum: A museum of pharmacy located within the castle that displays historic apothecary equipment, stocks of medicines and pharmaceutical instruments.