Sign in with Facebook"This is not Heidelberg Castle, is it???" Top 5 Page for this destination Heidelberg by christine.j
Heidelberg Travel Guide: 1,039 reviews and 2,716 photos
No,it's not and yes, it is. It is not the famous Heidelberg Castle which is known by every tourist in Heidelberg and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, visit each year. Not many people know, that there is another castle in Heidelberg, in the suburb called Handschuhsheim. This castle is called "Tiefburg" - Deep Castle - probably because it was completely surrounded by a deep moat. The only access was and still is by a bridge.
Two gruesome stories are connected to this castle.
At the end of the 16th century the knight living in nearby Hirschhorn castle, Friedrich of Hirschhorn,got into a fight with his cousin, young Hans of Handschuhsheim, living in the Tiefburg. During this fight the young cousin,legend says he was only 15, was killed . His mother was besides herself with grief, he had been the last of his family and now the family would die out,which they did in 1599.
She cursed the knight of Hirschhorn, predicting that because of this killing his family would also die out. He would be the last knight of Hirschhorn, dying without any children.
Friedrich of Hirschhorn laughed at her curse, he was also young at this time and was sure he'd have children.
But her curse worked, when he died in 1632, he left no children and so was the last knight of Hirschhorn castle.
This castle in Hirschhorn is a hotel today.
The photo shows the crest of the family living in the Tiefburg at that time, a glove."Handschuh" in German means "glove". legend has it that a knight had lost his glove and a young maid found it and gave it back to him.
They fell in love , got married and because a glove had brought them together, called the place "Handschuhsheim" - home of a glove.
The more likely explanation is not as romantic, someone called "Ansco" had lived in the area and this name got changed into "Handschuh".
I'm running out of space here, so I'll tell you the second, even more gruesome story in a "what to do" tip.
There are so many good pages about Heidelberg here on VT that I really wasn't sure if I should build one as well. Does anyone really need to read what I know about the castle? Or the main street? I don't think so.
But since I go to Heidelberg very often, either on my own or when I take tour groups there, I thought I'd give you some information about things less well known.So I'm going to build this page gradually.
Even though I thought I wouldn't give any tips about the castle since there are so many excellent ones already here on VT, I'm going to add a few tips about things many tourists overlook. Some stories about the castle as well, which may be interesting.
- Pros:Famous castle,lots of history
- Cons:Famous castle, lots of tourists
- In a nutshell:If possible, come off season,you'll enjoy it more
Reviews (36)
Bergfriedhof
Off The Beaten Path
(9)
Bergfriedhof - mountain cemetery - a fitting name, this cemetery is laid out on a mountain and some paths are really... more travel advice
The cutest rabbit babies
Warnings and Dangers
(4)
If you take children up to the cloister Stift Neuburg and visit the store, be prepared for some discussions about a new... more travel advice
Organic grocery shop near a monestary
Shopping
(4)
Near the cloister Stift Neuburg there is a very good grocery shop. They sell organic food produced in the region. Above... more travel advice
A monestary above the river:Stift...
Off The Beaten Path
(9)
As early as 1130 the first monks moved to this place above the river near Heidelberg. The cloister there has been a... more travel advice
-
Transportation (2)
See All Lockers in the train station -
Restaurants (4)
See All Above the Neckar -
Things to Do (10)
See All The Childrens' Pharmacy
-
Local Customs (2)
See All Flowers on a very old grave -
Nightlife (1)
Latin Music -
Been to Heidelberg?
Share your travels with the world!
christine.j's Related Pages
-
Mannheim
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Weinheim
-
Ladenburg
-
Bad Wimpfen
-
Bodensee
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Maulbronn
-
Niefern-Öschelbronn
-
Usedom
-
Dresden
-
Zittau
-
Nationalpark Berchtesgaden
-
Amorbach
-
Munich
-
Lutherstadt Wittenberg
-
Bremen
-
Bremerhaven
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Erfurt
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Weimar
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Arnstadt
-
Hamburg
Heidelberg Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "Germany's most romantic city: HEIDELBERG"
- "This is not Heidelberg Castle, is it???"
- "Heidelberg – a constant inspiration"
- "Huckleberry Berg"
- "Nemorino in Heidelberg"
- "Heidelberg"
- "Heidelberg"
- See All...
christine.j Visits Here Frequently!
- Member Rank:
- 0 0 1 5 4
- Forum Rank:
- 0 0 0 1 4
- 866 Reviews
- 1,451 Photos
- Add Friend
- Follow
- Send Message
Badges & Stats in Heidelberg
- 36 Reviews
- 49 Photos
- 50 Forum posts
- 40 Comments
- 5,910PageViews
- See All Stats
- See All Badges (71)
Have you been to Heidelberg?
Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in Heidelberg
- Posted in Travel Frankfurt am Main Forum "Re: Where to buy Rimowa Luggage"
- Commented on one of Maurizioago's Heidelberg travel pages
- Wrote a Review Lockers in the train station in Heidelberg Transportation
- updated a Heidelberg Travel Page "This is not Heidelberg Castle, is it???"
- Uploaded a Photo to "Bergfriedhof"
Top 10 Pages
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Cambridge
Intro, 41 reviews, 76 photos, 1 travelogue
-
London
Intro, 36 reviews, 65 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Mannheim
Intro, 46 reviews, 53 photos
-
Usedom
Intro, 32 reviews, 63 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Isle of Man
Intro, 34 reviews, 59 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Heidelberg
Intro, 36 reviews, 49 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Naturpark Bergstrasse-Odenwald
Intro, 27 reviews, 57 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Erfurt
Intro, 29 reviews, 42 photos
-
Venice
Intro, 29 reviews, 37 photos
-
Weinheim
Intro, 24 reviews, 42 photos
Friends
See All Friends (54)
Women's Travel
National/State Park
BirdwatchingLatest Heidelberg hotel reviews
- Crowne Plaza Heidelberg
- 218 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2013 - Hotel Tannhauser - Theaterhotel Heidelberg
- 10 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 8, 2013 - Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten
- 57 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 15, 2013 - Hotel Hollander Hof
- 139 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013 - Hotel Zum Seppl
- 2 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Feb 11, 2013 - Hotel Regina
- 15 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 17, 2013 - Hotel Blume Hip-Residence
- 9 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 24, 2013 - Gasthaus Hackteufel
- 45 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2013 - The Dubliner Hotel and Irish Pub
- 50 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 12, 2013 - Hotel Anlage
- 22 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Feb 13, 2013 - Hotel Alt Heidelberg
- 16 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 8, 2013 - Hotel Classic Inn
- 17 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 15, 2013 - NH Hotel Heidelberg
- 89 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013 - Marriott Heidelberg Hotel
- 224 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 23, 2013
Comments (39)
Hi Christine~ What wonderful Heidelberg tips! I like that they are different from others and tell legends and local tales! I'm getting ready to go back in a couple weeks - my daughter wants to see Heidelberg while visiting, so your tips are very helpful. And one weekend with Tom I want to find Tiefburg castle (and the cafe!). Also, I think I must try Earl Grey chocolate - just can't imagine what that must taste like! Thanks for writing so well! ~Brenda
Hi, thank you for this fantastic page, and for your recommendations in my forum thread! The local legends of the wolf and the castle are most interesting.
So glad you decided to write this page as it has been full of interest. So many curses that come true, glad they are not around to curse the people of today!
Hi Christine, I learned a lot about Heidelberg's history and legends from your fine tips. Bravo!
Christine - such wonderful tips and such a lot of effort when you initially didn't think another H. paqe nec??! My friends there have never shown us any of these things!
Excellent Heidelberg page! The museums, Witches' Tower and the Heidelberg Castle certainly sound interesting to us to explore! We hope to visit the city of Heidelberg one day. ~ho & pang
Thanks, Christine for your wonderful Heidelberg pages. I have lived here almost three years now, but I have yet to go see most of what you featured. We have friends coming for a visit in a few weeks, so a good time to go see them. :)
I'm glad that you decided to add another VT 'Heidelberg' page... these are wonderful pages!
I must come here more often! Wonderful and fascinating updates and yes, Tiefburg and the cafe sound excellent, and maybe the museum as well (Kurpfälzisches). And I'll link to your/the kids pharmacy now :-))
I always wanted to go to Heidelberg. But, just can't seem to find time and money...Maybe, someday, I will!