Weinheim and the Electoral Palatinate – the splendor and demise of an era.

The year 1537 on the castle refers to Weinheim's eventful past. During a tour of the old town, Wolfgang Balling explains the history of the Electoral Palatinate until 1806 and Weinheim's significance in the Heidelberg and Mannheim area. 1537 is carved in curved numbers in sandstone above the cellar entrance to Weinheim Castle – an important date in Weinheim's history. Many Weinheim residents also refer to themselves as "Kurpfälzer" (Electoral Palatinate). To what extent is this statement accurate, given that the Electoral Palatinate is one of the most important territories in the Holy Roman Empire – and has been off the map for over 200 years? During the tour, city guide Wolfgang Balling will give an overview of the history of the Electoral Palatinate from its beginnings to its end in 1806 during a walk through the old town, focusing in particular on the significance of Weinheim as a typical sovereign city while also placing it in the context of the centers of Heidelberg and Mannheim.