What wine lover has not fantasized about swimming in a barrel of their favorite drink? The Heidelberg Tun is the largest and one of the oldest wine barrels that exist to this day. It was built in 1751 by Prince Elector Karl-Theodore is one of four gigantic wine barrels built from that era. The Heidelberg Tun is the only one that exists to this day.

The Heidelberg Tun is located in the basement of the Heidelberg Castle. It has a capacity of 57, 854 gallons (219,000 liters) and has a platform on top where people can sit and sip some wine. Some say that it took over a hundred oak trees to construct the entire barrel. However, it was rarely used to store wine at the time it was constructed. It has been used as a tourist attraction since the 1800s.

A Wine Lover’s Fantasy

Castles are known to have vast cellars to store wine, and the Heidelberg Castle is no different. In fact, the Heidelberg Tun is actually comically massive. It seems like something right out of a wine lover’s dreams. While it is no longer being used to contain wine, it does make for an interesting pit stop to a tour of the Heidelberg Castle.

The Heidelberg Castle has survived many wars. Although it did sustain some damage from the wars, much of its structure survived through centuries. The Castle is a popular tourist spot in Heidelberg!

Impact On Arts And Literature

The idea of having a larger-than-life-sized wine barrel tickles the imagination of anyone who sees it. Some of these people include famous authors who have mentioned the Heidelberg Tun to some capacity in their works:

  • Jules Verne – Five Weeks in a Balloon
  • Victor Hugo – Les Miserables
  • Mark Twain – A Tramp Abroad
  • Ezra Pound - The Pisan Cantos

A Tour of the Castle

Tourists can explore the Heidelberg Castle, Garden, and Apothecary Museum when they pay the entrance fee. It’s a good deal, considering visitors can explore multiple sites with one ticket. Visitors have the option to book a guided tour to get more information about the historical significance of the palace. The entire tour takes just about 1-2 hours, which leaves tourists enough time to explore the rest of the town. The Heidelberg Tun is definitely worth taking a stop if you’re in Heidelberg as it is one of the most unique local attractions in the area.

  • Palace Schedule: 9 am to 5 pm | 9 am to 1 pm (December 24 and December 31)
  • Apothecary Museum: 10 am to 4:30 pm | Entrance Fee: 9 euros (adults), 4.50 euros (reduced)
  • Guided Tours: 6.00 euros ($10.45) (adults) | 3.00 euros ($3.48) (reduced) | 15.00 euros ($17.41) (family) | 5.00 euros ($5.80) (audio guide) | 5.40 euros ($6.27) (big groups, min. 20 pax)

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Explore The Town Of Heidelberg

There are a lot of sights to see in the town of Heidelberg because it is rich in history and culture. There is so much beauty and culture to take in by just walking around the town. A lot of these activities are free, except for the Heidelberg Zoo and the Palatinate Museum. Here’s a short list of the sites to visit:

  • Altstadt (Old Town) possesses the old-world charm of Heidelberg. Through its landscape and architecture, Alstadt captures the history of the town from its old structures, while combining it with modern developments.

Take a stroll through an area called the Philosopher’s Way as many great thinkers have in the past.

  • Alte Brucke (Old Bridge) was built in 1788. It has been around for over 100 years because it is made from stone. The bridges constructed before were damaged the extreme weather conditions. The current bridge was made of stone and has stood the test of time. Tip: visit the bridge in the evening to see the town lit up in the most romantic way.

Stroll through Heidelberg University. It is a public university that is the center of much of the activities in the town.

  • Church of the Holy Spirit is a Baroque-style church that was completed in the 1500s and then reconstructed in 1709. It used to be a place of worship for both Catholics and Protestants but was taken over by Protestants later on.
  • The Palatinate Museum is the home of one of the most important artifacts from the Pleistocene period—a cast of the jaw of the Heidelberg Man. | Entrance fee: 3.00 euros ($3.48) (adults) | 1.80 euros (2.09) (reduced)
  • Heidelberg Zoo is home to more than 200 species of animals; conservation efforts; the oldest botanical garden in Germany | Entrance fee: 13.20 euros ($15.32) (adults), 6.60 euros ($7.66) (children 3-18), 10.50 ($12.18) (reduced), 23.00 euros ($26.69) (family)

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Access

Heidelberg is at the heart of Germany and is accessible through various modes of transportation.

  • By plane: Frankfurt Airport, Frankfurt Hahn Airport, Stuttgart Airport, Strasbourg Airport, City Airport Mannheim, Karlsruhe/Baden Baden Airpot
  • By train: German Rail
  • By car: Motorway A5/A 656

Where To Stay

There is no shortage of beautiful hotels, apartments, and hostels in the area. Book a stay at one of the hotels near the castle for easy access to Heidelberg Tun and the other tourist spots.

  • The Heidelberg Exzellenz Hotel: from $91 per night
  • Qube Hotel Bergheim: from $93 per night
  • City Partner Hotel Hollander Hof: from $103 per night
  • NH Heidelberg: from $97 per night
  • Staycity Aparthotels Heidelberg: from $83 per night

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