Almond blossoms with bee (udo72 (123RF))
What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear about spring flowering trees?
Was it “Mandelblüte” - the German word for almond blossom?
While many of us are familiar with the famous cherry blossoms in Japan, South Korea and those pastel flowering trees beautifully framing the tidal basin in the U.S. capitol of Washington DC, less of us know of the beautiful blooming, almond-scented blossoms right here in Germany, most prolific just to the east of Kaiserslautern!
The lovely pink and white flowering almond blossom trees are known as one of the first harbingers of spring in this area. What really sets them apart from other spring flowering trees is their heavenly scent of honey that permeates the air as the blossoms open. That is why their tender flowers are often visited by busy bees collecting the sweet nectar even as visitors and nature lovers look on and snap photos in wonder. Because of a milder winter this year, shades of pink and white are already starting to decorate the landscape of the Deutsche Weinstrasse.
Normally the bloom season runs from early March to early April each year! But this year blossoms started unfurling in mid-February!
Gimmeldingen
For those wishing to view just one location and not a hike to view an abundance of almond blossoms, you may want Gimmeldingen to be your destination. The first pale pink and bright white blooms can usually be found in Gimmeldingen. This year the earliest trees bloomed around Valentine’s Day! I enjoyed visiting Gimmeldingen on Sunday, February 25th and the trees were perhaps 10 – 15 percent in bloom! There is no telling exactly when peak bloom will arrive because it’s dependent on rain, wind, sun and temperature! We can be certain that the delicate pink and white flowers will certainly show color over the next couple of weeks!
Planned months in advance, the little town of Gimmeldingen celebrates the pastel hues of spring with their annual Mandelblutenfest on two consecutive long weekends - March 24-26th and the weekend of March 31st -April 2nd. During this time the town will celebrate with 20 food and beverage stands, some stalls with local handicrafts and some of the town’s wineries! Expect very large crowds and bring your patience! There is no telling this year if the blooms will still be in their full glory during the planned fest but assuredly a good time is predicted!
Pfalz Almond Blossom Trail
The 100km-Almond Blossom trail or Pfälzer Mandelpfad is divided into seven stages, each very possible to walk in a day.The trail passes through numerous charming wine towns on the German Weinstraße just to the east of the Kaiserslautern Military Community. One could walk an entire stage and then take a bus or train back to their starting point, or simply walk for as long as they wanted at a particular point on a stage of the trail and then turn back. The entire 100km trail is marked with stickers of a pink blossom at intervals on utility poles, trees and streetlights lined along the trail.
Trail Marker (Julie O’Leary )
If you are looking for other locations away from crowds, perhaps one of the easiest and shortest stages to explore is Stage 4 Neustadt to Edenkoben. This is the stage of the Pfälzer Mandelpfad that I walked on Saturday afternoon. This the 12-kilometer stage of the trail, only a small part of the 100km Almond Blossom trail. It is a wonderful family-friendly three-hour stroll on mostly paved sidewalks overlooking beautiful vineyards where you could even bring your stroller or leashed dog and find lots of opportunities to stop and smell the blossoms!
Stage 4 starts in the wine town of Neustadt which plays host to so many wine festivals throughout the year but also has the distinction of being only a 25-minute direct train link from the Kaiserslautern main train station.
The starting point of the trail is at the top of Neustadt’s pedestrian-only zone. There is a clear sign at the intersection of Talstrasse and Haupstrasse within a few meters of Cafe Confiserie Sixt. I did not visit the café, but it is reportedly opened every day and a great place to have a bite to eat before or after your nature trek.
Leaving Neustadt, you will see the beautiful Hambacher Castle on the hill. Then you will pass the flowering tree-lined vineyards directly between the picturesque little villages of Maikammer and St. Martin with their history and cobblestone-lined old town centers, which are like walking through a fairy tale. You will continue following the blossom-marked trail (mostly sidewalk) through picturesque but rural, wine country until you reach Edenkoben.
If you need a break at any time hiking past these gorgeous flowering trees on weekends when festivals are not scheduled, there are many charming picnic areas, restaurants, cafes and wineries (search or read the posted signs for ‘Weingut’) along the way. Or make a small detour to any of the charming villages along the Almond Trail or “Mandelpfad.”
Getting there
Neustadt is roughly a 25-minute train ride away or 45-minute drive east from Kaiserslautern. From Neustadt Main Station, other trains and busses regularly run each hour and sometimes more often to take you to the other little enchanting villages on the Weinsstraße.
Link to the Mandelpfad in English: https://www.tourenplaner-rheinland-pfalz.de/en/tour/thematic-trail/palatinate-almond-trai/1529750/
