Up until the Thirty Years' War, it was home to one of Germany's most important courts. When the Rhenish Counts Palatine and later Electors decided to settle with their residence in Heidelberg, the magnificent, eventful history of Heidelberg Castle began. Up until the Thirty Years' War, it was home to one of Germany's most important courts. Due to the bustling building activity of the electors, an ensemble of well-fortified and representative buildings resulted, with its artistically most important castle building being erected in the Renaissance period.The world-famous garden, the 'Hortus Palatinus', was the last building project begun. This was followed by the period of destruction. The Castle has been preserved as a ruins and attracts one million visitors from around the world every year as a cultural monument of international ranking. This silver-gray guide familiarizes visitors with the history of the Castle and accompanies them on a tour through the Castle complex and the garden.