If you’re planning a holiday along the German Wine Route, you’ll be pleased to hear that the train connections are excellent. Even better than that? You won’t need to rely on a car during your holiday either. Use public transport to hop from one vineyard to the next, visit the zoo or head out for a bite to eat. Or you could cycle through the vineyards or set off on a walking adventure in the Palatinate Forest.
Neustadt/Wstr., Heid & Co. stop, approx. 25 min on foot
The ascent to Wolfsburg Castle, Neustadt's "home castle", is worth it, if only for the view of Neustadt and the Lambrecht Valley. The ruins of the mediaeval hilltop castle are just 30 metres wide and 140 metres long due to the elongated nature of the mountain spur. From April to October, visitors can enjoy hearty Palatinate fare, crisp Riesling spritzers, and friendly chat at the Burgschänke restaurant.
Open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays – whenever the flag is flying!
-> wolfsburg-neustadt.de
Esthal, Gemeindeplatz stop
Trekking conjures up images of adventuring through the wilderness in far-off countries. However, it's also possible in the Palatinate region from April to October. One of the 15 trekking spots in the local area is at Esthal. Time to pack up your tent, grab your backpack and set off!
-> trekking-pfalz.de
In need of refreshment? You'll find it on a hike along the Esthal Brunnenweg trail. The Palatinate Forest is the source of several springs around the village that have been captured in various wells. They were once used mainly for cattle watering and washing and have been preserved to this day.
Erfenstein, Schlossschänke stop
Legend has it that a leather bridge across the valley once connected Spangenberg Castle, on the right bank of the Speyerbach, with Erfenstein Castle, directly opposite on the left bank. Today, a bridge does not connect the castle ruins, but the Three Castles Trail (Drei-Burgenweg) does.
Elmstein, Schule stop
Elmstein is the Rhineland-Palatinate municipality with the most forests, and its motto is "Wald-Holz-Stolz" (Forest. Wood. Pride). Explore the fascinating history of forestry and forest workers at the Trifterlebnis Legelbachtal, the museum in the Alte Samenklenge, the "Flößerei und Trift" (rafting and wood drifting) visitor information centre or the former Wappenschmiede (historic smithy).
Pit-what? At the Kuckucksbähnel historic steam railway station, you can try your hand at mini-golf and pit-pat table golf, a combination of mini-golf and billiards.
Elmstein, Iggelbach, Zimmerplatz stop
Den Pfälzerwald aus einer Perspektive erleben, wie sie sonst nur Vögel haben – das ist möglich im Ziplinepark Elmstein. Hoch über dem Boden können Adrenalinfans auf 18 Strecken zwischen Bäumen entlang sausen und Absprünge aus bis zu 20 Metern wagen. Zip, zip, hurra!
Ideally, you’ll get a Pfalzcard from your accommodation provider. That way, you won’t have to worry about how much it’s going to cost you to get around. Having said that, VRN (the transport network operating throughout the Palatinate) and KVV (covering the southern Palatinate region only) have plenty to offer off-peak travellers. For example, you can take your bike on board for free after 9 am. If you buy a day ticket or a family day ticket, children and grandchildren under the age of 14 can travel for free. Plus, the new tariff (eTarif and Tickin apps) is based on distances as the crow flies, which is bound to save you money.
