Bengali flares slowly bathe the Heidelberg Castle in a mysterious red firelight, as if the ruins were on fire once again in their long history. As the last times in 1689 and 1693, when the troops of the Sun King Louis XIV burnt down the castle, leaving behind the world-famous ruins.

When the glowing castle slowly dies down, the second part of the spectacle begins – the brilliant fireworks over the Neckar. The Elector Friedrich V first had the fireworks staged in 1613, in order to provide a fitting welcome for his newly-betrothed wife Elizabeth Stuart. These fireworks laid the cornerstone for the later festivals of light held in the night sky over Heidelberg.

The banks of the Neckar River, the Nepomuk terrace, and the Philosophers’ Walk around 10 o’clock are the best locations to enjoy the Castle Illuminations.

Supporting program

Nepomuk Terrace
On the Nepomuk Terrace at the northern end of the Old Bridge, a small beer garden invites visitors to enjoy a cosy get-together between 4 and 11 pm, with live music from the Heidelberg JazzMen from 6 pm.

Kornmarkt
Arts and crafts and goods market on the Kornmarkt in the Old Town. (12 pm – 8 pm)

Bismarckplatz, Anatomiegarten and Neckarwiese
Representatives of the Heidelberger Schaustellerverband e.V. will be providing refreshments at Bismarckplatz and Anatomiegarten from Thursday to get visitors in the mood for the event, and on the Neckarwiese on Saturday.

Concert on the occasion of the castle illumination
The Heiliggeistkirche is looking forward to many listeners at 6.15 pm.