Hikes in Bad Duerkheim

Bad Dürkheim is located amidst picturesque vineyards in the heart of the Palatinate. Here runs the German Wine Route, one of the oldest and most beautiful panoramic roads in Germany. For those who want to explore the Palatinate on a multi-day hike, the long-distance hiking trail Pfälzer Weinsteig is available. But the region around the Bad Dürkheim vineyards is also ideal for day trips.

The large Roman circular hiking trail leads once around Bad Dürkheim in about 6 hours. The highlights along the way include - in addition to a cozy stop with good wine - two Roman villas, a Celtic ring wall and the "Dürkheimer Riesenfass", the largest wine barrel in the world.

Shorter hikes are also easily possible in Bad Dürkheim. The hiking trails, which stretch across the sunny vineyards, are predominantly easy and can also be done well by children or with strollers. The geo adventure trail to the Roman Weilberg vineyard is carefully designed for children. The Spiegelbergblick circular hike is one of the "Palatinate Wine Trails". It leads past the Michaeliskapelle chapel, where centuries ago festivals were held for pilgrims. In the course of time, they developed into the famous Dürkheim sausage market, nowadays a large, exuberant folk festival.

Hiking from Bad Dürkheim to the Felsenberg-Berntal nature reserve at the transition to the Palatinate Forest is an experience close to nature. It is especially beautiful here in spring and fall, when you hike between blossoming fruit trees or sun-drenched vineyards.

Many historical sights around Bad Dürkheim can be best explored on a hike. For example, the Limburg monastery ruins, once an important Romanesque monastery and today an enchanted ruin. Your visit can be well combined with a hiking trip to the castle and fortress ruins of Hardenberg. The massive complex was the residence of the Counts of Leiningen during the Renaissance. The remains of the stately buildings and the fortress can be visited, and the history of the site is impressively presented in the visitor center with multimedia reconstructions.

Another beautiful loop with cultural highlights leads to two of the most beautiful vantage points around Bad Dürkheim: In the midst of vineyards stands the flag tower, also called "Kaffeemühlchen", and offers a magnificent panoramic view over the vineyards south of the city. A hiking trail leads from here to the Zeppelin Tower viewing platform, which has been renamed the "Spiral Noodle" because of its shape.

One of the most worthwhile routes near Bad Dürkheim is the panoramic circuit to the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Höhe rock platform, which is rich in views and was carefully laid out by the Drachenfelsclub. The almost 5-kilometer-long circular trail offers several picnic spots and is also well suited for families.

To the west, Bad Dürkheim borders the Pfälzerwald Nature Park, the largest contiguous forest area in Germany. A multitude of hiking trails crisscross the area, leading past fascinating rock formations and to cozy forest huts and restaurants.

The highest rock in the Palatinate Forest is the legendary Drachenfels. In a good three hours you will hike in a beautiful circuit to the lookout point with dragon cave and dragon chamber. Two refreshment stops round off the hike.

From Leistadt you will discover even more rock formations with interesting stories on the "Seven Wonders of the Forest Trail". A particularly good physical condition is not required here; in three hours, about 300 meters of altitude are overcome. Other worthwhile trails can be found in Weilach, for example. A family-friendly walk leads to the Bismarck Tower and to the Heidenfels. You can stop for a leisurely meal at the Lindemannsruhe forester's lodge or at the hut on the Weilach before returning to the parking lot. The shortest loop with a nice place to stop for a bite to eat can be found along the path along the banks of the Isenachweiher pond.

For all hikes around Bad Dürkheim, you can download the map and GPS data for the respective route in advance.