Great Barrel (Heidelberger Fass)

The Great Barrel (Heidelberger Fass) is a giant wine cask housed in the Fassbau, the barrel building of Heidelberg Castle at Schlosshof 1, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The cask in its present form was built in the 18th century under Elector Karl Theodor and is among the largest wine barrels in the world, with a capacity of around 220,000 litres. It was one of several enormous casks made at the castle over the centuries to store the wine that the Electors received as tithes from the surrounding wine-growing areas of the Palatinate. Visitors enter the cellar from the courtyard and see the barrel from the front, where an ornate carved wooden facade and a staircase to the top give a sense of scale. A small platform on top of the cask, reached by steps, was historically used for dancing and is now a curiosity for visitors who climb up for a different view of the cellar. Beside the barrel stands a statue of Perkeo, the court jester of Elector Karl Philipp, who according to legend could drink huge quantities of wine every day. A figure of the jester is part of the local lore, and a clock with a mechanical joke is linked to him as well. The barrel is included in the Schlossticket and is open daily with the castle grounds, usually from 09:00 to 18:00 with last entry at 17:30. A visit takes only 15 to 20 minutes and is most enjoyable in combination with the courtyard and the apothecary museum. The Fassbau can be crowded when tour groups enter at once, so it is worth visiting at midday between courtyard visits, or early in the morning. The cellar is cool even in summer, which makes it a pleasant break from heat. Photography is generally allowed, though low light in the cellar can make hand-held shots harder, and a fast lens or higher ISO helps. Stairs lead up to the platform above the barrel, so visitors with limited mobility may see only the front.