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Heidelberg Castle, when mentioned, for those who appreciate a fine glass of wine every now and then, would definitely instinctively think of… the World’s Largest Wine Barrel – or more officially, the Heidelberg Tun. And yes, it sits right there in the heart of Heidelberg Castle. The thought of such a barrel gave me goosebumps. I couldn’t wait to ogle it! I was wondering how large it was in proportion to a person. Google said it stands six meters tall and was supposedly able to have held more than 220,000 liters of liquid. Wine in this case. But ironically, it was never really filled. One can only imagine and drool at the notion of having that much wine in your basement. A lifetime of insobriety I would expect, a short one at that too.

Standing on Heidelberg Castle grounds atop the hill overlooking Heidelberg town and its very prominent red-bricked Heidelberg University with the Neckar river in the background.

Gate O’ Love, I call it. Interesting story here, this gate has never been restored or fixed, it stands as it was hundreds of years ago surviving multiple wars. This was built for the King’s wife as a declaration of love and was never damaged in ANY war even though some parts of the castle sustained bumps and bruises. Because of that, locals believe that love will always prevail.

A look at the rest of the castle, partially in ruins and some sections undergoing restoration.

And now, the gargantuan wine cask! That’s how a six-footer looks next to a six meter tall barrel. My model was very accommodating and grinned for the photo.

Below are more photos of our visit to Heidelberg Castle & Town.