Is Heidelberg Castle a ruin or a complete building?

It is a partially restored ruin, having been destroyed by war in the 17th century and by a lightning-caused fire in 1764.

How do you get up to Heidelberg Castle from the old town?

Visitors can walk up a steep path or take the Heidelberg funicular, which stops close to the castle.

Who built Heidelberg Castle?

It was expanded over several centuries by the Electors Palatine, starting from an earlier medieval castle on the site.

What can you see inside Heidelberg Castle?

The east wing houses the German Pharmacy Museum, while the rest of the site is largely an outdoor visit among the ruins.

Heidelberg Castle

Heidelberg

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Where: Heidelberg

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Heidelberger Schloss stands in Heidelberg (Heidelberg), in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

The Heidelberger Schloss stands above Heidelberg's old town on the northern slope of the Königstuhl hill, overlooking the Neckar river. Built from red sandstone, it served for nearly three centuries as the residence of the Electors Palatine before being wrecked by war and then by a lightning-caused fire in 1764. Left largely as a ruin, though partly restored, it combines architectural layers from several periods, including the Ottheinrichsbau, regarded as a key work of German Mannerism. The German Pharmacy Museum now occupies its eastern wing.

Written from Heidelberg Castle

What to know

Much of the visit takes place outdoors, among buildings that remain partly in ruins.
Access from the old town is possible on foot or via the Heidelberg funicular, which has an intermediate stop near the castle.
The grounds are hilly with stairs, so some physical effort is required.
The German Pharmacy Museum, housed in the east wing, is a separate part of the visit.
The site is listed as a Kulturdenkmal in Germany.

Where this château is

Heidelberg · Heidelberg · Baden-Württemberg

Map of the area around Heidelberger Schloss

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Heidelberg, Heidelberg

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Heritage status: Kulturdenkmal in Deutschland

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Frequently asked

Is Heidelberg Castle a ruin or a complete building?: It is a partially restored ruin, having been destroyed by war in the 17th century and by a lightning-caused fire in 1764.
How do you get up to Heidelberg Castle from the old town?: Visitors can walk up a steep path or take the Heidelberg funicular, which stops close to the castle.
Who built Heidelberg Castle?: It was expanded over several centuries by the Electors Palatine, starting from an earlier medieval castle on the site.
What can you see inside Heidelberg Castle?: The east wing houses the German Pharmacy Museum, while the rest of the site is largely an outdoor visit among the ruins.

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Sources

Identity, location and official references from Wikidata and the Mérimée register.

Within an hour’s drive

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