If you ask tourists from all over the world what sight they associate with Germany, this is pretty much the answer: Heidelberg Castle. As one of the most famous ruins in Germany, it is one of the landmarks of the university city and brings numerous visitors from all over the world to Heidelberg every year. The 13th-century castle was the prestigious ancestral seat of the Electors of the Palatinate until its destruction in the War of the Palatinate Succession and is one of the most important buildings of German Mannerism. After the destruction, the palace was only partially restored. Today it dominates the image of the old town and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Europe.
