On the Great Terrace at Heidelberg Castle, a shoe-shaped imprint fascinates visitors from across the globe. A brave knight is said to have left this deep impression in the sandstone as he leaped from a window in the Friedrich’s Wing.
Shoe imprint on the Great Terrace.
According to legend, a lady-in-waiting was entertaining a knight in one of the rooms of the Friedrich’s Wing. Upon the discovery of the couple in flagranti, the knight is said to have leaped from the window in desperation. The iron shoe of his armor left a deep impression in the sandstone on the Great Terrace. In another version, the knight was forced to jump through fire in full armor.
Large print, small foot:
Today, visitors to Heidelberg Castle enjoy placing their own foot inside the imprint left by the "knight's leap." If the imprint fits, the legend says that that person can expect to live a happy life.
