Sight
Heidelberg Tun (Great Tun)
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The Heidelberg Tun, or Great Tun, is a colossal wine barrel housed in the cellar of Heidelberg Castle. Built in 1751, it has a capacity of 220,000 liters, making it the largest wine barrel in the world. The barrel is made from 130 oak trees and measures about 7 meters in diameter. Visitors can climb a staircase to a platform on top of the barrel, which once served as a dance floor. The tun was used to store wine paid as taxes by local vintners to the prince-electors. Today, it is a major tourist attraction within the castle complex, often accompanied by a statue of the court jester Perkeo, who was said to be the barrel's guardian. The sheer size of the barrel is impressive, and the cellar itself offers a cool respite from summer heat.
Don't miss
- Stand on the dance floor platform atop the barrel
- See the statue of the court jester Perkeo, the barrel's legendary guardian
- Learn about the history of wine taxation in the Palatinate
- Explore the castle cellar and its other exhibits
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Heidelberg Tun (Great Tun)
You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inHeidelberg's Altstadt: A Self-Guided Audio Tour4★ · 26 travelers~1 hourFrom$5 per personSee dates →
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