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Love in the Air at the Heidelberg Castle

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The Heidelberg Castle grounds are one of my favorite spots to stroll. When I was just a young babe in a Kinderwagen, my mother posed for a now-iconic family photograph at the castle’s main overlook spot (Scheffelterrasse), with me in tow.

Twenty years after that shot was snapped, I moved from the United States — back to Germany — into a Heidelberg apartment that’s almost visible among the terracotta roofs in that original photograph.

Realizing my connection to this romantic spot, my husband proposed atop an elegant stone bench nearby several years ago.

Later, we were married in the castle’s chapel following a Doctor Zhivago-esque snowfall. My teeth still chatter thinking about it, but I’m warmed by the memories of that incredible night.

One needn’t have so many historical connections to this castle and grounds to realize how special the spot is. Indeed, others have lost their hearts there too.

Heidelberg Altstadt view from Heidelberg Castle - the Holy Ghost Church
Heidelberg Castle at Sunset
Trees carved with heart on Heidelberg Castle grounds
Carved heart on Heidleberg Castle railing

Where in the World?

Have you been to Heidelberg? What spots did you find to be the most memorable there? Can you recommend other lovely locales in your part of the world that hold a special place for you?

Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.

Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

About the author

Hi! My name is Tricia Mitchell. I delight in telling stories about my slow travels through more than 65 countries. Some of my highlights have included sharing meals with locals in Armenia, Cambodia, and Tunisia; sipping sparkling wine with French cousins in Alsace; milking goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village; and training with a Japanese mine-clearance team in Laos. My husband, Shawn, and I are based in France’s Loire Valley.

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28 responses to “Love in the Air at the Heidelberg Castle”

  1. belocchio Avatar

    A delightful and romantic account of your wedding. The photographs had me yodeling I haven’t been to Heidelberg but my husband has. He loved the photographs.

    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

      I could almost hear you yodeling from your corner of the world, Belocchio! :) You must convince your husband to take you to Heidelberg. I lived there for just over 10 years and never tired of it. Here are some more pictures for added incentive: https://triciaannemitchell.com/2011/06/26/whyiadoreheidelberg/

  2. nonoymanga Avatar

    Very pleasing composition. Thanks for sharing Nonoy Manga

    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

      Nonoy – I’m thrilled you dropped in! (What an accomplished artist you are!) Thank you for your kind comment.

    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

      I’m happy you enjoyed it, Sonali; thank you for dropping by again!

  3. Rachael Avatar

    What a romantic location! There can’t be many people who have had their wedding in the chapel of Heidelberg Castle.

    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

      Rachael, I was actually surprised that a fair number of Asian visitors have destination weddings in the castle. Heidelberg is quite a popular city with Japanese tourists – certainly an exotic locale for a unique wedding.

  4. rigmover Avatar
    rigmover

    Great photos and great memories I’m sure.

    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

      Many thanks, Mark! Of the many places you’ve been, is there one that stands out as the most memorable?

      1. rigmover Avatar
        rigmover

        Hi Tricia, mmm thats a tough one, Auckland NZ where I met my wife, and for work Greenland, (see my post for today)

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

        New Zealand is a spot I hope we make it to soon as I heard it is utterly gorgeous. While in Indonesia, we thought about taking a quick jaunt there, but concluded that NZ and Australia both deserve unique future billing. And what a lovely shot of the iceberg in Greenland, Mark! Thank you for sharing.

      3. rigmover Avatar
        rigmover

        You are welcome.

  5. Kana Tyler Avatar
    Kana Tyler

    It’s been almost thirty years since I was in Heidelberg (and I was nine years old at the time) but I remember so many details of that castle! And the river-boat trip we took–I think I snapped three rolls of film with my little Kodak Instamatic… :)

    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

      What a fun image you’ve just painted in my mind, Kana… I haven’t spent as much time cruising the Neckar River (you must have photo-documented all the castles upriver?) as I have strolling the castle grounds. The ruins are such a fun place for a child to explore! I bet you remember the Powder Tower’s (exploded) skeleton there?

      Thank you for dropping by – I’ve been enjoying perusing your site for pointers on blogging, as well as for your observations of life. Have a super weekend!

      1. Kana Tyler Avatar
        Kana Tyler

        OH yes! The powder tower is an unforgettable detail… What’s very entertaining (in looking back) is to look at the photo albums that my sister (then age six) and I put together after our six-month sojourn through Europe. We each had our own camera, and our goofy photographic choices provide VERY different perspectives from our parents’ slide show of the trip! ;)

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

        How lucky that you were able to travel for six months as a child! It sounds as though your photo albums might have similarities with the diaries I kept as a 9 year-old traveling through Germany and Austria. Was I impressed by architecture and history and new landscapes? Not so much! Instead, I went into great depth describing the food (whipped cream & hot chocolate) and the snippet of Mozart’s hair I saw at his birthplace in Salzburg. I was excited that the lock of golden brown hair was the same color as mine. What great travel souvenirs our albums and diaries are!

  6. […] morning Tricia Mitchell posted a lovely blog about the castle in Heidelberg, Germany–some of her own photos and […]

  7. […] morning Tricia Mitchell posted a lovely blog about the castle in Heidelberg, Germany–with some of her own photos and […]

  8. legalempress2 Avatar

    This is a beautiful place thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. I have never been to Germany but would love to visit some day. I would love to visit Heidelberg Castle.

    Also, I am fairly new to WordPress and would like to invite you to read my blog. I would love to hear your comments.

    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

      Legalempress2, thanks for your comment and for stopping by. I hope you’ll someday soon get the opportunity to visit Germany. I spent just over 10 years living there, and had to pinch myself everyday knowing that the beautiful castle was just up on the hillside. :) I tried to make regular morning walks through the gardens, knowing that I wouldn’t always live in a city with a castle.

      Also, thanks for the invite to peek at your blog – I’ll certainly do so, and am hopping over there now.

  9. Kana Tyler Avatar
    Kana Tyler

    Thanks for your inspiration for today’s post at MY place… ;)
    http://kanatyler.com/2012/05/12/a-pilgrimage-of-perspective/

    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

      Kana – what an honor! Such is the joy of blogging – sharing & inspiring.

      I truly love Pilgrimage of Perspective, and I’m headed back to explore it again. The Heidelberg Castle scrapbook page image you included from your youth is so fun. Makes me want to access my diaries in storage on the other side of the Atlantic. Thanks for inspiring me to revisit those too. :)

      Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend – sunny skies in Germany today. Wish you the same!

  10. marinachetner Avatar

    Lovely lovely lovely! So many wonderful memories tied to this spot. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

      Happy Sunday & many thanks, Marina! Yes, so many memories there – I love the serendipity of it all. Makes me wonder what future spots may hold such significance. :)

  11. 24/7 in France Avatar

    It looks beautiful there! Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy travels!

    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

      I’m enjoying your pieces on France, alors je te remercie! It’s long been my dream to live and work there, so it’s great to find inspiration. :)

  12. R C Norman Avatar

    What a beautiful place….and a beautiful occasion. I’ve been perusing your blog and your photos capture the adventure and splendor of your travels. I look forward to following your posts. Thanks for following mine. Happy shooting! — Rob