Heidelberg's famous castle illuminations and fireworks
Categories: Family and Kids, Sightseeing, Cultural and History, Entertainment
The fireworks and castle illuminations have a most interesting background: They originated in 1613 when newly-wed Prince Elector Frederic V welcomed his young wife to Heidelberg. The English princess Elizabeth Stuart was received with due respect and a splendid event. The castle was illuminated by bright colors, and star balls were to be seen high above the Neckar River. Today, the star balls highlight the Heidelberg (Heidelberg vacation rentals | Heidelberg travel guide) summer.
If the French General Melac and his troops had not destroyed and burned down Heidelberg Castle over 300 years ago, perhaps it would never have achieved the fame it enjoys today as the most beautiful and romantic castle in the world. In memory of this fateful event, the castle illuminations are now held several times each year. The castle walls turns blood red in the glow of torches and a huge, brilliant fireworks display is launched from the Old Bridge, bathing the entrance to the Neckar valley in a stunning panoply of light and color. It's a spectacular event that attracts thousands of visitors each year from far and wide.
For those who wish to do a little shopping before the fireworks, businesses in the Altstadt will remain open until 9:00 p.m. There will also be a concert held at the Holy Ghost Church at 6:15 p.m. - a perfect program for a romantic Heidelberg weekend. (For tickets please call Heidelberg Ticket at +49 (0) 6221 58-20 000.)
If you plan to drive downtown for the festivities, make sure to arrive early, as several streets around the castle will be closed off for safety reasons.
[ source: tourism-heidelberg.com ]
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Opening Hours
The open air events will start after dusk (10:15 p.m.), three times a year from April until October. Check online for dates.
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About this Article
This travel guide has been written by Anita Irujo.
My name is Anita and I was born in Graz, Austria. In 2006, my study abroad brought me to the US for the first time. I left the US after spending almost a year in Savannah, GA, and decided to return to work on my thesis for a few more months. During this time I met my husband and faith has it that I now share the same destiny as many other foreigners I have met since then. They come to study and find themselves staying for good. In my case, for the very best reasons :) Last year, we moved into the Boston area for job opportunities and found ourselves in an environment rich of good food, art and culture. We love dancing (especially Salsa) and enjoy diving into the diverse communities of Boston and Cambridge. German of course is a big part of our lives, I teach my husband German (with a Styrian dialect), we visit a Stammtisch, cook Austrian/German food and indulge in the beer made by the local micro-breweries of Massachusetts.
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