The best view of the Barrel Building (Fassbau) is from the Great Terrace (Großer Altan). When this functional building was erected at the end of the 16th century, its Gothic-style windows were already completely out of fashion. What prompted its builder, Johann Casimir – uncle and guardian of the later Elector Frederick IV – to choose them is no longer known today.
In 1591, a gigantic barrel was installed in the building’s cellar to collect 130,000 liters of tithe wine from the Palatinate.
The original Great Tun fell victim to the turmoil of the Thirty Years’ War. In 1664, it was replaced by an even larger barrel with a capacity of 200,000 liters. Almost 100 years later, Elector Charles Theodore, who had long since moved his residence to Mannheim Palace, had today’s third Great Tun built.
It held 220,000 liters of wine. A surprising detail: a staircase leads up to a platform on top of the barrel, which was probably once used as a dance floor.
At the beginning of the 18th century, Elector Charles Philip brought Perkeo, a man of small stature, from South Tyrol to the Heidelberg court. As court jester, he entertained courtly society with his pranks and quick wit. He is famous for his ability to hold his drink, which is the subject of many an anecdote.
As a painted wooden figure, Perkeo still keeps an eye on the Great Tun.
Very practical: during celebrations, wine could be pumped through a pipe directly from the Great Tun into the neighboring Ladies’ Building (Frauenzimmerbau) and on into the King’s Hall.