Metzger, Johann; Caus, Salomon de: An historical description of the Castle of Heidelberg and its gardens: composed from careful researches and authentic accounts (Heidelberg, [ca. 1830])

In 1689 and 1693, this remarkable building was destroyed
by the French and reduced to ruins; whilst the large tuns lying
in the cellar underneath, were emptied and partly knocked to
pieces. The only remaining old cask still exhibits the marks of
the hatchets, with which they attempted to break the bottom of it.

After the termination of the war, either John William, or
Charles Philip caused these ruins to be slightly roofed; in order
to keep the rain from the vaults. The form of these roofs may still
be distinguished by the mortar with which they were plastered at
the sidewalls.

In 1716—1718, the staircase (&) with the broad steps, in the
present bandhouse, leading to the building of Frederic (IV), was
built by Charles Philip, and under Charles Theodor, in the middle
of the 18th century, the old walls were pulled down as far as to
the mouldings of the royal hall, when the present roof with the
stone mouldings was placed upon them, and the interior designed
for a kooper's workshop, then called bandhouse.

27. The Frederic's building with the chapel of the
castle (Tab. VI. 6, II, IV, VII, VIII.),
built by Frederic IV. upon the site of several buildings deriving
from the original foundation of the castle, which he ordered to
be pulled down in 1601, when this building was begun and finish-
ed by him in 1607.

An inscription on a slab over the door records the founda-
tion of this building as follows:

FRIDERICUS COMES PALATINUS RHEM S. ROM. IM-
PERII ELECTOR DUX BAVARIAE HOC PALATIUM
DIVINO CULTUI ET COMMODAE HABITATIONI EX-
STRUENDUM ET MAIORUM SUORUM IMAGINIBUS
EXORNANDUM CURAVIT. ANNO DOM. MDCVIL i. e.

Frederic, count Palatine by Rhine, elector of the sacred Roman

empire, duke of Bavaria, built this palace, to be used for di-
vine worship, and to serve for a pleasant dwelling, and orna-
mented it with the images of his ancestors; in the year of our
Lord 1607.

Over the door of the church the 20th verse of the 118th psalm
is cut out, in Hebrew and Latin:

HAEC EST PORTA IEHOVAE IUSTI INTRABUNT PER
EAM. i. e.

This is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter into it.

At the facade fronting the yard, there are standing in niches,
partly very well executed, the images of the ancestors of the Pa-
latine house, with their names underneath, the date of their de-
cease being marked, up to Frederic IV., in the following order,
from the right to the left.

First row, at the top of the gableend:
1. CAROLUS MAGNUS. 814. 2. OTTO AVITTELSBAC. 1183.
3. LUDOVICUS 1213.*) 4. RUDOLPHUS. 1319.

Second row; third story:
1. LUDOVICUS IMPERATOR. 1347. 2. RUPERTUS REX
ROM. 1410. 3. OTTO REX HUNGAR. 1312. 4. CHRI-
STOPH REX DANIAE. 1519.

Third row; second story:
1. RUPERTUS SENIOR. 1390. 2. FRIDERICUS VICTO-
RIOSUS. 1476. 3. FRIDERICUS II. 1556. 4. OTTO HEN-
RICUS. 1559.

Fourth and undermost row:
1. FRIDERICUS PIUS. 1576. 2. LUDOVICUS, 1583. 3.IOH.
CASIMIR. 1592. 4. FRIDERICUS IV. 1607. **)

*) Lewis I. having died 1231, the above date seems to refer to his accession to
the throne, if not the dates were confounded by the sculptor.

**) 1607 is the date of the erection of this building; for Frederic died 1610. —
Mr. von Graimberg is publishing a collection of these princes.