Castle · Heidelberg, Germany
Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle (German: Heidelberger Schloss) is a ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg.
Photo: Motatcho via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Heidelberg, Germany |
|---|---|
| Type | Castle |
| Elevation | Elevation: 213 m |
| Coordinates | 49.4106° N, 8.7158° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Heidelberg Castle is known for
Heidelberg Castle (German: Heidelberger Schloss) is a ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg.
About Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle (German: Heidelberger Schloss) is a ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps. The castle has only been partially rebuilt since its demolition in the 17th and 18th centuries.
History
Heidelberg was first mentioned in 1196 as "Heidelberch". In 1155 Conrad of Hohenstaufen was made the Count Palatine by his half-brother Frederick Barbarossa, and the region became known as the Electoral Palatinate. The claim that Conrad's main residence was on the Schlossberg (Castle Hill), known as the Jettenbühl, cannot be substantiated.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Heidelberg Castle website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Heidelberg |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Mannheim-City Airport (MHG) |
| Distance from the airport | 9.9 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA) · Frankfurt am Main, Germany · 43.1 miles away
- Karlsruhe Baden-Baden Airport (FKB) · Rheinmünster, Germany · 52.2 miles away
- Stuttgart Airport (STR) · Stuttgart, Germany · 54.8 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Germany
More castles
Frequently asked questions
What is Heidelberg Castle?
Heidelberg Castle (German: Heidelberger Schloss) is a ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg.
Where is Heidelberg Castle located?
Heidelberg Castle is in Heidelberg, Germany. Its coordinates are 49.4106° N, 8.7158° E.
How do I get to Heidelberg Castle?
The nearest town is Heidelberg, and the nearest airport is Mannheim-City Airport (MHG), about 9.9 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Heidelberg Castle?
Heidelberg was first mentioned in 1196 as "Heidelberch". In 1155 Conrad of Hohenstaufen was made the Count Palatine by his half-brother Frederick Barbarossa, and the region became known as the Electoral Palatinate.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_Castle — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327265 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.schloss-heidelberg.de/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.