Situated high above the River Neckar, Heidelberg Castle is one of Germany`s most romantic locations. It has had a long and turbulent history since it was first constructed in the early 15th century as a residence for the Palatine princes, the powerful secular rulers who presided over this part of southern Germany during the Holy Roman Empire. Having been totally destroyed during the Thirty Years War, and later by the French in 1689 and 1693, the red sandstone building was struck by lightning in 1764 and even its stones were taken for use in other building projects. All this rebuilding has led to a variety of architectural styles and yet the castle`s delapidated air adds to its charm.
