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Heidelberg Castle and Old Town

Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party.

Germany (Europe and North America)
Date of Submission: 20/09/1999
Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)
Category: Cultural
State, Province or Region: Baden-Wurttemberg
Coordinates: N49 25 E8 43
Ref.: 1359

Description

Heidelberg is situated in an unique landscape in the valley of the River Neckar. The castle is a chef d'oeuvre of German renaissance architecture. With the ruins of the castle, the baroque style architecture based on a ground plan of the middle ages and the surrounding landscape Heidelberg became the centre of the German romanticism in the l9th century. In the European wide difference around 1900 concerning the reconstruction of Heidelberg castle the modern preservation of monuments was constituted ("to preserve not to restore").

Justification for Outstanding Universal Value

Comparison with other similar properties

The cultural monuments of Heidelberg survive in a shape time has given them. The restoration of Heidelberg Castle is symbolic of the transition from a concept of caring for cultural monuments. The medieval ground plan of Heidelberg has mostly survived.