THE PALATINATE – THE PFALZ

It's true that the sun also shines in other places but nowhere else is quite so favoured as the German Weinstrasse ("Wine-street") in the Palatinate. A jewel in the crown for motorbiking enthusiasts.

Sheltered in the west by the Palatinate forest and bordering the Rhine in the east, lies one of Germany's best kept secrets- the beautiful landscape of "The Pfalz" which together with the North Vosges Regional Nature Park in Alsace belongs to one of the greatest places to ride a motorbike. The warmth of the locals and their hospitality is well documented.

Tour the German "Tuscany"

When the sun shines on vineyards, the figs, kiwis and lemons ripen and palms flourish in the garden and the almond trees blossom early in March you can understand why this area is known as the German Tuscany.

Leaving the Palatinate forest, with its picturesque windy roads and castles in the direction of the Rhine valley, a small garden of Eden opens up. The German "Weinstrasse", dotted with traditional wine villages with their wonderful half-timbered or sandstone houses exudes a southern Mediterranean flair.

Well known places, renowned vineyards and the historical wine villages and towns of Bad Dürkheim, Deidesheim, Wachenheim, Kallstadt and St Martin , to name a few, are waiting to be discovered. The Palatinate Nature Park contains the largest single forest in Germany and is part of the Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO. Its unspoilt countryside, castles and ruins along with the largest sandstone rock landscape area in Europe characterise this region.

The Palatinate Hospitality

The "Pfälzer" are down to earth, wine loving, friendly and, with their mild sunny climate, content people. This is reflected in their warm hospitality and adds to the attractiveness of this region. It is no wonder that the Romans and vines, thousands of years ago, felt at home here and that the local slogan is - plain and simply.

>> Cheers....The Palatinate <<