Do you know where cordon bleu was invented? Around 1860 in the spa town of Bad Dürkheim, which has a population of around 19,000. Of course, you can also enjoy typical Palatinate saumagen here, traditionally served with sauerkraut and bread. The small town on the German Wine Route was granted town rights in 1340. The town offers a whole range of rustic wine taverns. There is also a beautiful spa park with a saltworks more than 300 metres long and a casino. In addition, there are beautiful vineyard views on the edge of the Palatinate Forest.
Sights: Mediterranean flair in Bad Dürkheim’s old town
Bad Dürkheim is one of the sunniest places in Germany. Its sheltered location on the slopes of the Palatinate Forest gives it an almost Mediterranean feel. You can enjoy all this when you visit the sights of Bad Dürkheim.
Town square and Römerplatz – your gateway to the old town
If you are travelling by car, it is best to park at the centrally located town square. Here you will find outdoor parking spaces under Mediterranean plane trees. The square is surrounded by pretty, colourful houses, where you will find shops and restaurants. Although the name ‘town square’ is somewhat misleading, it is not the central square of Bad Dürkheim’s old town. Nor is it the prettiest, as we will discover more beautiful squares later on. However, it is an excellent starting point with parking facilities.
You are just 100 metres away from Roman Square (Römerplatz). This is the centre of Bad Dürkheim’s old town and one of the town’s main attractions. You will immediately fall in love with the charm of this square. Picturesque houses, palm trees, the Roman fountain and numerous places to stop for refreshments and relax make it a lively meeting place. You can enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere in front of an ice cream parlour. If you want something more substantial, you can also try Palatinate food in one of the restaurants. The most famous dish is Saumagen (pig’s stomach) – be sure to give it a try.
Castle Square and Casino – Classic Elegance
Once you have refuelled, take a leisurely stroll through the narrow streets, past beautiful rows of houses and small shops. One of these old town alleys is the Weinstraße (wine street). After just 200 metres and about two minutes, you will reach the Schlossplatz (castle square). Next to it are the beautiful Kurhaus and the casino, two more Bad Dürkheim attractions. The buildings exude an elegant tranquillity in their classicist style. Visitors have been enjoying themselves here for 70 years.
Dürkheimer Fass – The largest barrel in the world
The Dürkheim barrel (Dürkheimer Fass), a centrepiece of the Wine Route, is spectacular. You are guaranteed to be amazed by this Bad Dürkheim attraction. From Schlossplatz, continue along the Wine Route towards the spa gardens. After about 500 metres and around five minutes, you will find yourself standing in front of the largest barrel in the world. The barrel, built in 1934, has a diameter of 13.5 metres and can hold 1.7 million litres. However, it does not contain wine, but a restaurant with 200 seats on two floors. The atmosphere inside is a special experience. Naturally, seats here are highly sought after. Tip: You must reserve three days in advance, otherwise you will often be out of luck.
It’s only about 5 minutes from the Dürkheim barrel to the spa gardens. Here you can relax and recover from your tour through Bad Dürkheim’s old town.
History: Bad Dürkheim – a long tradition as a saltwater and spa resort
Due to the mild climate, Celts and later Romans settled in the region. In 1360, Bad Dürkheim was granted town rights in the Middle Ages. In its eventful history, the town was destroyed and rebuilt several times during wars, including the War of the Palatinate Succession.
Bad Dürkheim is known for its salt springs and looks back on a very long tradition. Abbots documented the use of salt springs as early as 1387. This laid the foundation for today’s spa. In 1847, Bad Dürkheim established itself as a saltwater spa. Since 1904, the town has been allowed to use the word ‘Bad’ in its name. As you can see, Bad Dürkheim looks back on a proud tradition.
Special tips: Dürkheim Sausage Market – the world’s largest wine festival
An absolute highlight of the year in Bad Dürkheim is the Dürkheim sausage market. The locals affectionately call it the ‘Worschtmarkt’. It dates back to 1417 – a truly long tradition.
The Dürkheim Sausage Market is the largest wine festival in the world. More than 600,000 visitors celebrate here every year in September. The festivities take place over the first two weekends in September and last for a total of nine days. You can choose from more than 300 wines from the region at 36 wine bars. That should be more than enough choice.
Best time to visit – autumn colours and almond blossom
Tip: Choose autumn for your visit to Bad Dürkheim. When the surrounding vineyards are ablaze with colour, the weather is often stable and sunny with pleasant temperatures. This is particularly suitable for visiting the sights of Bad Dürkheim. And if you can catch one or more days of the Wurstmarkt sausage market, everything will be perfect. But be careful: you won’t be the only one doing this, so book your accommodation in good time.
Another particularly suitable season is spring. Everything blooms in the most beautiful colours along the mild wine route at this time of year. The almond blossom is particularly impressive, conjuring up a delicate pink hue across the entire landscape. Afterwards, the fruit blossoms create a sea of white flowers with apple, pear and cherry trees. Due to the special climate, spring starts here about two weeks earlier than elsewhere. So if you can’t wait, Bad Dürkheim is an ideal place to start spring.
Surroundings: Bad Dürkheim Attraction – Germany’s longest graduation tower
Not far from Bad Dürkheim’s old town, you can visit one of Bad Dürkheim’s biggest attractions: the Bad Dürkheim graduation tower, a 333-metre-long salt works. From Römerplatz, it’s just a few minutes’ walk through Bad Dürkheim’s old town towards the spa gardens.
The Bad Dürkheim graduation tower is one of the longest in Germany. In the past, people built salt works to extract table salt. They allowed the salty water, or brine, to trickle over a network of branches. The water evaporated, leaving behind the salt. In 1867, salt extraction using this method was discontinued. Later, the Bad Dürkheim graduation tower took on a different role. The brine evaporating on the branches created very healthy, mineral-rich air. If you walk along the wooden path in front of the wall of the graduation tower, you will feel it when you breathe. Take some time and consciously breathe deeply.
Nature on the Wine Route – hiking between vineyards and forests
Another special attraction in Bad Dürkheim is the nature along the Wine Route. There are numerous hiking trails through the vineyards, which you can enjoy especially in autumn during the grape harvest. The Palatinate Forest also entices you with its beautiful nature and fresh air. You can choose from more than 20 hiking tours between the Palatinate Forest and the vineyards. Find out in advance and choose the right route for you. Of course, you can also opt for one of the numerous cycling routes.
Palatinate Almond Trail – Spring in pink
In spring, the almond and fruit blossoms are a wonderful natural spectacle that you can really enjoy while hiking. The mild climate along the wine route around Bad Dürkheim creates an impressive sea of blossoms. The Palatinate Almond Trail is particularly recommended. Here you can hike through spring on 7 stages covering up to 100 km. Bad Dürkheim is an ideal starting point for your tour.
Hardenburg Castle – the Middle Ages above the vineyards
If you are interested in castles and ruins, you can visit Hardenburg Castle. It takes about 10 minutes to get there by car or about an hour on foot. The medieval hilltop castle from the 16th century is still preserved as an impressive ruin. You can walk through its winding corridors and admire its mighty walls and towers. Enjoy a magnificent view of the Palatinate Forest, beautiful pleasure gardens and the remains of the hall.
