Giant wine barrel ()
If you are in town for the Wurst Market, why not see what other wonders this town has for you? Bad Dürkheim is one of the most famous wine-growing regions in the world. You can find Bad Dürkheim a short 40-minute drive (or an hour-long public transit ride) from Kaiserslautern and less than two hours from Stuttgart via car or public transit. There is something for everyone here!
Eat in a Giant Wine Barrel: In 1934, vintner and master cooper, Fritz Keller, built the giant wine barrel that now serves as the restaurant, Dürkheimer Riesenfass. It sits at the edge of the town’s square on the main road from Bad Dürkheim to Kaiserslautern. According to the restaurant, the diameter of the barrel is 13.5 meters with a volume of 1.7 MILLION liters. (The other popular giant wine barrel in Heidelberg measures roughly nine meters). The restaurant offers a variety of food and drink options including Rheinland regional specialties and, of course, wine tastings.
Warm up or Cool Down at the Pool and Sauna: Have a relaxing day at Salinarium - Leisure Pool and Sauna. There is a sport and swimming pool measuring 25 meters long maintaining a temperature of 28-29 degrees Celsius (82.4- 84.2 degrees Fahrenheit). Take a nice steam in a variety of saunas and soon you will be able to relax even more in thermal baths. Unwind with a massage. Kids (and kids at heart) will enjoy the water slides and diving boards. The Salinarium is closed on Mondays and some of the areas and experiences may not be available due to the construction.
Explore a Castle and Ruins: Hardenburg Castle and Fortress Ruins offers visitors a chance to explore a castle, Renaissance garden area and view an exhibition of items recovered from 16th and 17th-century archeological digs. The outdoor eatery beside the castle and overlooking the town is a relaxing place to order some flammkuchen and let the kids play. Lindberg Abbey is just outside of town and is a ruined Abbey converted into a modern-day restaurant. Enjoy a great regionally inspired meal and then explore the monastery gardens. Lindberg Abbey is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and only open for dinner hours Wednesday through Friday.
Do it All in the Römerplatz: No matter what you want to do, you can do it in the Römerplatz. In the Middle Ages, the “Römer” was the center of the area, which is where today’s name comes from, according to tourenplaner-rheinland-pfalz.de/. There is a pedestrian area, great for those who love to stroll. There are plenty of Eiscafes for those midday ice cream and coffee treats. There are restaurants to satisfy any appetite. For those seeking a souvenir, you can find multiple shops here.
Hike for an Abbey View: If you want to get in some exercise and enjoy a beautiful area, you can hike from the Pfalz Forest in Bad Dürkheim to a view of Lindberg Abbey. Along the trail, you will see Ancient Roman ruins, a Celtic wall, and more. The trail takes roughly 2.5 hours and is 7.9 kilometers. Preview it on alltrails.com.
