Castle Illumination and Fireworks

Three times a year Heidelberg hosts a Castle Illumination and fireworks show. We missed the first two because it takes place late at night and we didn't want to take the boys out. We almost didn't go tonight, but I am glad we dragged them out, even though Maddox was pretty unhappy about it. He was excited to get dressed and get in the car at 9pm, but by the time the fireworks started at 10:15 he was whining and asking to go home. I don't blame him since this is way past his bedtime, but we asked him to hang in there. We had planned on parking in the old town and walking across the Old Bridge to the other side of the river bank. We walked past cute little vendors selling candy and crepes along the way.



Unfortunately, when we got to the bridge it was closed off to all traffic, including pedestrians, because they were going to set the fireworks off from there. We'll have to remember that for next time. So we walked along the Neckar River and found a spot where we could see both the castle and the bridge. The polizei closed the roads off to traffic and it was packed with people waiting for the show to start. Maddox whined and wanted to go play in the river, but he eventually climbed in the back of the stroller, cuddled up in a blanket, and pouted.



Carson, on the other hand, was happy and enjoyed smiling at all the old ladies who were going ga-ga over him.





Apparently this event has been going on for quite a while as Mark Twain watched a similiar show and wrote about it in his 1878 book "A Tramp Abroad." This show is to commemorate 2 important events in Heidelberg history. The first was when the Prince Elector Fredrich V welcomed his new bride with a 2 hour dazzling display of firework in 1613. The second event is not so happy. The fireworks start with a type of reinactment of when Heidelberg and its castle were captured by Catholic forces, which ravaged Frederick’s wonderful garden (called the "Eighth Wonder of the World") and carted off the city’s legendary library, the Bibliotheca Palatina, to Rome as a gift for the pope.
The city was destroyed and the castle was burned in 1693.

A few minutes before the fireworks started the castle and bridge when dark. Then there was a loud "boom" from the bridge. The castle was lit up and fireworks shot from high above it.


When the fireworks stopped the castle was lit up with red flickering light, simulating a fire and it's burning down. The red light died down and the fireworks started from the Old Bridge. It was advertised as a huge, spectacular show and it was neat to see, but I must admit I was expecting more. Maybe there is more of an impact from from the other side of the river. The boys were good during the event. Carson was scared of the loud noises and wanted daddy to hold him.


Maddox watched with wide eyes, but didn't make a peep. I tried to get a picture of him, but I had the flash off for the fireworks, so they either came out too dark or too blurry.

On the long walk back to the car the bumpy cobblestone streets put Maddox to sleep, so Ben and I stopped and enjoyed some ice cream :) Sorry, Maddox. I attempted to share with Carson, but it was lemon flavored and he wasn't too thrilled.

Both of the boys fell asleep on the car ride home and were easily transfered to their beds. Maybe they will sleep in tomorrow....no such luck!

Here are a few photos of the fireworks.