Heidelberg Castle rises high above the medieval town of Heidelberg, Germany. First mentioned in 1214 as a fortified medieval castle, Heidelberg Castle later served as a royal residence for the prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire. Different architectural styles are present throughout the complex.
The Ruprecht’s Wing, the oldest castle, is an example of Gothic architecture with its ribbed vaults and keystones. The Ottheinrich’s Wing epitomizes the ideal German Renaissance palace with its decorated façade, which features sculptures of figures from antiquity.
Heidelberg expanded into a Renaissance-style castle throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. The most notable structures include the Friedrich’s Wing (Friedrichsbau), the Ottheinrich’s Wing (Ottheinrichsbau), the Glass Wing (Gläserner Saalbau), and the English Wing (Englischer Bau), and are some of the best examples of German Renaissance architecture. The Garden of the Palatinate (Hortus Palatinus), a landscape garden, has long been celebrated as the eighth wonder of the world….