The castle of Heidelburg stands as an ominous ruin over the lower city and the Neckar River. The castle is a major tourist site in Germany. It was begun as a fortress by Prince Elector Ruprecht III (1398 - 1410). It was destroyed and added onto over the next couple of hundred years and eventually became a castle. It exists today primarily as a wonderful ruin. The lower city, of course, has every kind of German food a good tourist would want including a lunch with blood sausage.