Dreaming of summer! - The best insider tips for your Palatinate holiday - more than just wine and the Palatinate Forest

1st Rötzenfelsen

A follower on Instagram drew my attention to this breathtaking place. The Rötzenfelsen rock rises up between the dense treetops of the Palatinate Forest near Gossersweiler-Stein. It sits enthroned on the mountain of the same name and if you make the climb, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view over the Palatinate Forest. Palatinate fact: The rock is an impressive 55 metres high and, together with the Rötzenberg, has a total height of 550 metres. You can look out over the treetops and not only have a unique view of unspoilt nature, but also of Lindelbrunn Castle, Trifels Castle, Asselstein and the Rehberg Tower. To get to the Rötzenfelsen, you can either take the direct ascent from Gossersweiler-Stein or choose one of several hiking trails. These are the Dimbacher Buntsandstein-Höhenweg, which starts at the car park at the entrance to Dimbach, and the Rimbach-Steig, which you can take from the car park at the end of Darsteim in the direction of Vorderweidenthal or from the Lourdesgrotte in Schwanheim. Your hiking rucksack should include some fitness, a sure footing and time so that you can enjoy the marvellous views over the Palatinate to the full.

2nd Holiday Park Haßloch

The theme park offers plenty of fun and adventure for young and old. The first free-fall tower and the first Rapid River in Germany were built in the park. The most popular and well-known attractions are the rollercoaster "Expedition GeFroce" with a top speed of 120 km/h, the rafting adventure " DinoSplash", the European premiere "Sky Scream" and "The Big Wave". But I don't want to give too much away just yet. You can expect a unique adrenaline experience for all ages and the whole family.

3rd German Wine Route

Perhaps not an insider tip, but a hike or cycle tour along the German Wine Route is a must on your Palatinate holiday. The German Wine Route is one of the oldest tourist routes in Germany, is around 85 kilometres long and runs through the wine-growing region of the Palatinate. It starts in the south on the border with Alsace at the German Wine Gate and ends in the north in Bockenheim at the House of the German Wine Route. There are various ways to explore the wine route. You can simply go by car and stop where you like it best or my personal favourites: on foot or by bike. I recommend that you choose an appealing route in advance and then set off from Hotel Annaberg. The most beautiful places are St. Martin, Rhodt, Neustadt, Deidesheim, Bad Dürkheim, Edesheim and Edenkoben. And it is not for nothing that the German Wine Route hiking trail is also known as a gourmet tour, as you have a large selection of hosts and excellent restaurants along the route. You should make at least one stop to enjoy excellent wine and Palatinate specialities. Do you prefer travelling by bike? Perfect, because the cycle path is also a dream and offers 97 kilometres of joie de vivre. It is divided into two routes: the valley route and the somewhat more challenging panoramic route. The route is divided into 4 stages, but it is of course possible to divide it into other sections.

4th Hambach Castle

Hambach Castle towers high above the Rhine. It is not only located in the heart of Europe, but is also a memorial to the history of German and European democracy. It has been awarded the "European Heritage Label" and symbolises and exemplifies European unification as well as the ideals and history of Europe and the Union. Wondering what you can do at Hambach Castle? The castle offers a varied cultural and educational programme such as political discussions, classical concerts, theatre productions, political cabaret and children's theatre. The exciting exhibition "Up, up to the castle" is waiting to be explored by you. The exhibition tour presents an overview of the development of democracy up to the present day. With numerous media and activity stations, there is no chance of boredom. There are also guided tours and workshops. The Restaurant 1832 provides refreshments and offers the right thing for every taste - whether typical Palatinate & hearty or light & creative.

5th Eagle Arch

A very special monument with a breathtaking view of the Donnersberg region is the Eagle's Arch at Moltkefels on the Donnersberg. The steel triumphal arch was extensively restored in 2016 and has shone in new splendour ever since. The beam ribs of the base are stretched thirty metres above the ground between two rocks of the Moltkefels. The 12.50 metre long steel arch was designed by August Freiherr Schilling von Canstatt (1840-1918). A visit to the Adlerbogen can be combined with various hikes. There is free parking on the Donnersberg plateau or in Dannenfels, from where you can start a circular walk.

6th Parezzo coffee roastery in Landau

The urban design café with its own roastery offers a variety of coffee specialities with home-roasted coffee and the finest patisserie. A wonderful place to take a little break between all the holiday activities and all the foodies among us will definitely get their money's worth. I love visiting a coffee roastery on holiday and taking a packet home with me as a souvenir, alongside all the wine of course ;)