The English Wing.
Young Prince-Elector Friedrich V married Princess Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of King James I of England, in 1613. He wanted to offer his regal wife a suitable residential palace at his Heidelberg residence. The open spaces around the castle courtyard, however, were already occupied, so that the new structure had to be built outside the actual palace, along the north wall. Today, the English Wing is best admired from the Artillery Garden.
The building offers dramatic insights and views.
The English Wing's base is a trapezoid. Today, the window facades jut up into blue skies. The roof was lost in the destruction of the Nine Years' War between 1688 and 1697 as well as the palace fires of 1764. The few remnants of stucco decor along the window jambs of the ruins demonstrate how lavish the decor once was.
View from the Thick Tower at Heidelberg Castle down to the historic district and the Neckar river.
The fascinating rampart on the west side of the English Wing is call the Thick Tower. Friedrich's predecessor, Ludwig V, fortified his residence with this mighty tower in 1533. The walls are roughly seven meters thick. Friedrich V placed a 16-cornered room with large windows on the substructure and these offer a breathtaking view into the distance. This is where the electoral court dined and celebrated with guests. Theater performances and concerts entertained courtly society.
Many of the special tours offered by the State Castle and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg take visitors through the English Building.
