DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52801#0370
366
of these great men. It might easily be restored
to its original beauty ; all those fine ornaments in
alto relievo, which are out of the reach of wanton
destruction, being still in a good state, and the in-
terior facade entire. It was originally the seat of
the Elector Palatine, and several fine pictures by
Raphael were here, a copy of one of which still
remains. The policy of Louis XIV., who was
jealous of the power of the Palatinate, caused the
destruction of this magnificent palace. The cas-
teliar part was blown up by his orders, and the
great tower was precipitated like a mass of huge
rock into the deep ravine which surrounds it,
where it now lies,—a monument of the deplorable
effects of ambition and war.
From Heidelberg to Darmstadt the road is good,
the scenery most beautiful. On the right the tra-
veller passes at the foot of that ridge of mountains
which run across Germany and seem to unite
the Hartzwald with the Schwartzwald or Black
Forest. The road is planted on each side with
fine old chesnut trees, and vineyards run half
up the hills, which here and there terminate in
promontories surmounted by the ruins of some
Gothic castle, the remains of feudalism and of
barbarism. On the left is seen the delightful
valley of the Rhine, commonly called the Rheingau,
of these great men. It might easily be restored
to its original beauty ; all those fine ornaments in
alto relievo, which are out of the reach of wanton
destruction, being still in a good state, and the in-
terior facade entire. It was originally the seat of
the Elector Palatine, and several fine pictures by
Raphael were here, a copy of one of which still
remains. The policy of Louis XIV., who was
jealous of the power of the Palatinate, caused the
destruction of this magnificent palace. The cas-
teliar part was blown up by his orders, and the
great tower was precipitated like a mass of huge
rock into the deep ravine which surrounds it,
where it now lies,—a monument of the deplorable
effects of ambition and war.
From Heidelberg to Darmstadt the road is good,
the scenery most beautiful. On the right the tra-
veller passes at the foot of that ridge of mountains
which run across Germany and seem to unite
the Hartzwald with the Schwartzwald or Black
Forest. The road is planted on each side with
fine old chesnut trees, and vineyards run half
up the hills, which here and there terminate in
promontories surmounted by the ruins of some
Gothic castle, the remains of feudalism and of
barbarism. On the left is seen the delightful
valley of the Rhine, commonly called the Rheingau,