HEIDELBERG (hī'dl-berG) , a town
of Baden; on the left bank of the Neckar,
here crossed by two bridges; in one of
the loveliest districts of Germany. It is
on a narrow strip between the river and
the castlerock and Geisberg, spurs of the
Königstuhl (1,850 feet); and chiefly
consists of one main street and less important
cross and paralled streets. The principal
buildings are: The church of St.
Peter; the church of the Holy Ghost; the
castle, anciently the residence of the
Electors Palatine;
Heidelberg University
(q. v.); the town house, etc. The
castle, begun in the end of the 13th
century, and exhibiting elaborate examples
of early and late Renaissance
architecture, is the most remarkable edifice
in Heidelberg. It is now an ivy-clad
ruin, but is carefully preserved from
further decay. The principal industry is
brewing. One of the greatest curiosities
of the place is the Heidelberg tun, kept
in a cellar under the castle. It is 36
feet in length, 26 in diameter, and
capable of holding 800 hogsheads. Heidelberg
is rich in public walks and fine
views, that from the Königstuhl being of
surpassing beauty. It was long the capital
of the Palatinate, but was superseded
by Mannheim in 1720. In 1622 Tilly
captured and sacked the city, A similar
fate overtook it in 1689 and 1693 at the
hands of the French. Pop. about 56,000.
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| © Ewing Galloway
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| HEIDELBERG, GERMANY, ON THE NECKAR RIVER
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