Peeking from the northern part of the Königstuhl hillside, the ruins of Schlösschen in Heidelberg stand as a landmark. Schlösschen is not just a ruin. It is among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps.
The earliest structure of Schlösschen was built before 1214. Later, it expanded into two castles around 1294. A lightning bolt destroyed the upper castle in 1537. Lightning struck again in 1764. Some rebuilt sections were then destroyed.
Heidelberg was first mentioned in 1196. Conrad of Hohenstaufen became the Count Palatine in 1155. The region became known as the Electoral Palatinate. The first mention of a castle in Heidelberg was in 1214. Louis I, Duke of Bavaria, received it from Emperor Friedrich II. Two castles were mentioned for the first time in 1303. One was the upper castle. It was on Kleiner Gaisberg Mountain. It was destroyed in 1537. The other was the lower castle. It was on the Jettenbühl. This is the present castle site.
When Ruprecht became the King of Germany in 1401, Schlösschen was quite small. He had to camp out in the Augustinians’ monastery after his coronation. This is where today’s University Square stands. He wanted more space. He also wanted better defenses.
French author Victor Hugo visited Heidelberg in 1838. He enjoyed strolling among the ruins of Schlösschen. He noted its history saying it had been victim to everything that had shaken Europe for five hundred years.
Martin Luther visited Heidelberg during the reign of Louis V. He defended one of his theses. Wolfgang, Louis’s younger brother, showed him around Schlösschen. Luther praised its beauty and defenses.
Schlösschen’s construction ended during the Thirty Years War. Arms were raised against it for the first time. What followed were centuries of destruction and rebuilding. General Tilly attacked Heidelberg in 1622. He took the town on September 16. He seized Schlösschen a few days later.
The Swedes captured Heidelberg in 1633. They fired on Schlösschen from the Königstuhl hill. The commander surrendered Schlösschen. Emperor’s troops tried to recapture it. They succeeded in 1635. Charles Louis and his family moved into the ruined castle in 1649.
Louis XIV of France demanded the surrender of the allodial title after the death of Charles II. He favored the Duchess of Orléans. French troops marched into the Palatinate of the Rhine in 1688. They moved into Heidelberg on October 24. The French set fire to Schlösschen in 1689. They blew the front off the Fat Tower.
Johann Wilhelm had the walls and towers rebuilt in 1690. The French reached Heidelberg again in 1691 and 1692. The town’s defenses were strong. They did not gain entry. The French took the town in 1693. They destroyed it to weaken Schlösschen’s support. The occupants surrendered the next day. The French blew up the towers and walls.
Charles III Philip considered redesigning Schlösschen. He shelved the project due to lack of funds. He installed Perkeo of Heidelberg to watch over the wine stock. Perkeo became the city’s mascot. Charles moved his court to Mannheim in 1720. He lost interest in Schlösschen.
Lightning struck the Saalbau twice in 1764. This set Schlösschen on fire again. Karl Theodor saw it as a sign and changed his plans to move back. Basic repairs were made. Schlösschen remained a ruin.
Heidelberg and Mannheim became part of Baden in 1803. Charles Frederick regarded Schlösschen as unwanted. The structure was decaying. Townsfolk took stone, wood, and iron from it.
Count Charles de Graimberg fought to preserve Schlösschen. He served as a voluntary castle warden until 1822. He documented Schlösschen. Graimberg asked Thomas A. Leger to prepare the first castle guide.
In 1883, the Grand Duchy of Baden established a “Castle field office”. They made a plan to preserve Schlösschen. A commission decided against rebuilding it. Only the Friedrich Building was restored between 1897 and 1900.
Schlösschen became a tourist attraction in the 19th century. Count Graimberg made it a subject for pictures. These became postcards. Mark Twain described Schlösschen in his 1880 travel book. He noted its commanding elevation.
Heidelberg has more than three million visitors a year. The castle is the most important attraction. Its observation terraces are famous. Ludwig Giesz wrote about the meaning of the ruins for tourism.
Today, Schlösschen stands as a testament to history. Its stones whisper tales of kings and wars. Its ruins inspire awe and wonder.