City walk Deidesheim

The route is not specially signposted. You can use the following description for an individual route to get to know special buildings and places in Deidesheim with their unique features. Occasionally, you will find additional explanations on location panels at the individual sights.

 Start: Geißbock Fountain in front of the Deidesheim Tourist Information

1. Geißbock Fountain - Location Bahnhofstraße 5

The fountain, created by Gernot Rumpf in 1985, symbolically represents the traditional Geißbock auction. This event is celebrated every year on Pentecost Tuesday in Deidesheim in historic costume. (see location panel across the street)

2. Palace Park - Location: Bahnhofstraße / Schlossstraße
The grounds of the palace park were once the moat of the episcopal palace, which was used for fish farming until 1739. After several destructions and rebuildings, a park was created here in 1975/76. In the rear area, remnants of the old castle fortifications, including the "Turmschreiberturm," are still preserved.

3. Kaisergarten
This Mediterranean-style facility with pine trees and cypresses was designed in 1985 on the occasion of the "50 years German Wine Route" anniversary.

4. German Wine Route - Location Weinstraße
We cross the German Wine Tourism Route. It begins in the north at Bockenheim (near Worms) and leads 85 kilometers south to Schweigen-Rechtenbach, near the French border and the Alsatian town of Wissembourg. The black grape on an orange background serves as orientation.  

5. Winery von Winning (formerly Dr. Deinhard) - Location: Weinstraße 10
Founded in 1849 by a descendant of the Deinhard wine trading family, the winery gained high reputation under Dr. Andreas Deinhard. Today it belongs to the Niederberger family and is a member of the VDP.

6. "Zollhäuschen" - Location: Bennstraße / corner Kaisergarten
A small, baroque garden house from the late 18th century that was part of the garden of the Herren von Bawyr estate and now houses the Deidesheimer Kerwebuwe. They appear mainly at the Deidesheimer Kerwe (wine festival) on the 2nd and 3rd weekends of August with Palatinate dialect and songs. Traditionally, they raise the Kerwe tree by muscle power for the wine festival opening and hold the "Kerwered".

7. Winery Reichsrat von Buhl - Location: Weinstraße 18-24
In family ownership for 150 years, the winery is one of the most renowned in Germany. The manor house was once a hub farm of the Hochstift Speyer and was secularized in 1805.

8. Stadtmauergasse
A picturesque alley where the houses are part of the former city wall.

9. St. Bernhardushof - Location: Heumarktstraße 18
Former monastic estate of the Cistercian monastery Otterberg, which belonged to various owners after secularization and now serves as a parish hall.

10. Ketschauer Hof and Winery Geh. Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan - Location: Ketschauerhofstraße 1 / Kirchgasse 10
The Jordan family, who immigrated from Savoy, laid the foundation for modern Palatinate quality wine growing. Today the Ketschauer Hof houses an exclusive hotel with the restaurants "1718" and "L.A. Jordan".

11. Parish Church St. Ulrich - Location: Kirchgasse
Built between 1440 and 1480, it is the only larger church building in the Palatinate from this period that has completely preserved its Gothic appearance on the exterior. The leaning tower is about 70 m high. Particularly worth seeing are the stained glass windows above the side doors from the 15th century.
 

12. Marketplace

In the middle of the historic marketplace stands the Andreas fountain, donated in 1851 by the Jordan family and inspired by Italian Renaissance models.
At the square is the hotel/restaurant Deidesheimer Hof. This became known through the regular visits of Helmut Kohl in the 1990s. Kohl met here with international state guests such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, or the Spanish King Juan Carlos, and they enjoyed the famous specialty "Palatinate Saumagen".

13. Historic Town Hall / Museum of Wine Culture - Location: Marktplatz 9
The baroque town hall is one of the landmarks of the city. On the upper floor is the council hall with colorful stained glass windows.
The Museum of Wine Culture documents the close connection between Deidesheim and viticulture.

14. Guesthouse "Zur Kanne" / 3F German Museum of Photo, Film and Television Technology - Location: Weinstraße 31
The "Kanne" is the oldest guesthouse in the Palatinate with roots in the 12th century.
Next to it is the 3F Museum, which shows the development of photo, film, and television technology with more than 5,500 exhibits.

15. Spital - Location: Weinstraße 35 - 39
The Spital was founded in 1494 for the care of the sick and elderly. Today, the building houses the Hotel & Café "Ritter von Böhl," which continues to operate in accordance with the founder's intent. The associated Spital chapel from the 15th century shows late Gothic architecture with traceried windows.

16. History and Customs Fountain - Location: Corner Weinstraße - Königsgarten
The customs fountain symbolically represents significant events in the history and customs of Deidesheim through individual bronze cast objects. The fountain was designed by the sculptor Karl Seiter. A panel explains the symbols.

17. Spitalgasse - Location: Corner Wassergasse/Spitalgasse
Here you can still see an original section of the city wall. On the way to Turmgasse, you pass the Rothenturm, a historic city wall tower. Deidesheim received the right to fortify in 1360, but the fortifications were only completed in the 15th century. The original two gates, 14 towers, and city wall were largely removed in the 19th century as the city needed more space for the growing population.

18. Cultural Center Former Synagogue - Location: Bahnhofstraße 19
Built in 1853/54, it now serves as a cultural monument and is used for exhibitions and events.

19. J.-Mungenast-Weg -/ Deidesheim Winemakers' Association - Location Bahnhofstraße / J.-Mungenast-Weg
Johann Mungenast was the initiator of the Deidesheim Winemakers' Association. Founded in 1898, it is the oldest winemakers' association in the Palatinate. (Sales are open Monday to Sunday.)

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