Heidelberg Castle

http://www.journeymart.com/de/AttrationImages/heidelberg-castle-heidelberg.jpg

We visited the 700 year old castle, which has more or less been in a state of partial ruin since the 18th century. Lightning bolts, mines, and neglect have left the town with a beautiful ruin, which I was going to describe, until I read Mark Twain's description on Wikipedia: 

"A ruin must be rightly situated, to be effective. This one could not have been better placed. It stands upon a commanding elevation, it is buried in green woods, there is no level ground about it, but, on the contrary, there are wooded terraces upon terraces, and one looks down through shining leaves into profound chasms and abysses where twilight reigns and the sun cannot intrude. Nature knows how to garnish a ruin to get the best effect. One of these old towers is split down the middle, and one half has tumbled aside. It tumbled in such a way as to establish itself in a picturesque attitude. Then all it lacked was a fitting drapery, and Nature has furnished that; she has robed the rugged mass in flowers and verdure, and made it a charm to the eye. The standing half exposes its arched and cavernous rooms to you, like open, toothless mouths; there, too, the vines and flowers have done their work of grace. The rear portion of the tower has not been neglected, either, but is clothed with a clinging garment of polished ivy which hides the wounds and stains of time. Even the top is not left bare, but is crowned with a flourishing group of trees & shrubs. Misfortune has done for this old tower what it has done for the human character sometimes – improved it." -Mark Twain

Among other fun things, the castle has the largest barrel I have ever seen in my life.  "The Great Barrel" is around 22 feet in diameter and 30 feet long, holding about 500,000 lbs of liquid (estimate based on claimed 228,000 liter capacity).  The first excessively large Heidelberg barrel was built around 1600 at about half of that capacity.  After 3 failed designs and extenuating circumstances, the final barrel (which we got to see) was built in the mid 18th century.

 We walked round the castle for awhile:

Not sure if Kyndall or Vanna White...

Coolest sundial ever:

The German Pharmacy Museum is also located within the castle.  Germany was big in the creation of regulated pharmacy- the museum was well done enough as to make this topic interesting.

We decided to take a tour of the inside of the castle once it was too late- the last tour had already left and newcomers weren't allowed.  Next time!