We docked this morning in the industrial river port of Mannheim. The wharf here was so high we climbed up to the roof of our boat and walked straight off.
We took a bus to the university city of Heidelberg. Our first stop was at Heidelberg Castle. This was blown up during Louis XIV’s second and this time successful assault on the city. His first had failed some five years before and this time he came back and leveled the city.
The inhabitants started to rebuild the castle but after the building works were struck twice by lightning they took it as a sign that God did not want it rebuilt and left it. So today you have a mix of restored bits and ruins. Its unusual appearance is further enhanced by the practice of successive ruling Counts to build their own palace within the fortress walls while leaving the earlier palaces in existence.
Some of the unrestored structures are quite magnificent.
In the cellar of one of the palaces, you can find what is claimed to be the world’s largest wine barrel. You can get an idea of its size from the people in the photo.
Up on the castle walls you can get a great view over the town.
After the castle, we headed down to the city. Jeanette found a local who helped us with directions.
One bit of local colour we struck was a candidate canvassing for votes for the coming EU elections. I am not sure what his platform was but he was winning the crowd with free pizza handed out by a singing pizza man.
Hardys’ Travels 