German Wine Route - Tourism route

The German Wine Route tourism route is marked with the symbol of a black grape on yellow background. You often find this directly on or along the road signage, which leads you straight through the Palatinate vineyards and the small and large wine towns. 

You start in Schweigen-Rechtenbach at the German Wine Gate, which marks the historic beginning of the tourism route. On the historic wine route you go via Oberotterbach to the spa town Bad Bergzabern with the Südpfalz Therme, the large spa park, and a charming town center. The drive takes you alongside the wooded Haardt Mountains through the wine villages Pleisweiler-Oberhofen, Gleiszellen-Gleishorbach to Klingenmünster. A detour up to the Landeck castle ruin is worthwhile here (tip: view and refreshment in the castle tavern). The route continues through the wine villages Eschbach, Leinsweiler, Ranschbach, and Birkweiler, where a small hike to the well-known Kastanienbusch vineyard is worth it. Via Siebeldingen, Frankweiler, Gleisweiler, Burrweiler, and Hainfeld you continue to Rhodt unter Rietburg. (Tip: visit Theresienstraße and take the chairlift up to the Rietburg castle ruin). On the way to Edenkoben, you see Villa Ludwigshöhe castle, built by the Bavarian King Ludwig I. You drive through Edenkoben to the cittaslow town Maikammer. With wide views, the drive continues through Neustadt-Diedesfeld to Neustadt-Hambach. Here, majestically above the vineyards on the foothills of the Palatinate Forest, stands Hambach Castle, regarded as the cradle of German democracy. In Neustadt an der Weinstraße, you should definitely allow for a longer break. (Tip: winding old town alleys and atmosphere on the market square.) Via Neustadt-Mußbach, the drive continues through the cittaslow town Deidesheim – recognized as a center of wine culture – further to Forst, famous for its excellent vineyards. In Wachenheim, Wachtenburg castle towers over the Wine Route (tip: view and refreshment in the castle tavern). In the spa town Bad Dürkheim, take time for the graduation tower and the idyllic spa park. The tourism route continues to the small wine town Ungstein with the impressive Roman winery Weilberg. Further on, it goes over Kallstadt uphill to Herxheim am Berg to the highest point of the German Wine Route. After Dackenheim with its golf garden, you turn to Kirchheim an der Weinstraße. The route then leads you right through Grünstadt and the district Asselheim to the destination Bockenheim. The House of the German Wine Route is the counterpart to the German Wine Gate and marks the end or the beginning of the German Wine Route, as you wish.