On the Kraut-und-Rüben cycle path through the Palatinate
The Palatinate and its people are something special. They eat Saumagen and are unabashed about it. They have built the largest wine barrel in the world in order to open a pub in it.
You have the largest contiguous wine-growing and forest area in Germany. And there is now a considerable network of cycle paths within it. That's why we're limiting ourselves here to the plains and hills along the German Wine Routebetween Worms and the German Wine Gate just before the French border.
In addition to Riesling, Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau in cosy wine taverns, the region's attractions include the old town of Freinsheim, the Museum of Wine Culture in Deidesheim and the medieval town walls of Wachenheim.
The Kraut-und-Rüben cycle path is also suitable for families
The main routes and many smaller tours in the Palatinate generally lead along tarmac tracks and side roads or firm country lanes with little or no traffic. However, the routes are only completely flat in the Rhine plain. Many routes are also suitable for families.
The Kraut-und-Rüben cycle path - recommended in 3-4 day stages - crosses the Palatinate Rhine plain between the wine-growing areas on the edge of the Palatinate Forest and the Rhine floodplains in large, well-signposted loops. As an agricultural themed cycle route, it leads to many farmers and winegrowers. In the region, which is characterised by vegetable growing, it mostly runs along farm tracks that are used to varying degrees depending on the season.
Best time to travel: April to October
Journey:
Neustadt an der Weinstraße can be easily reached by Deutsche Bahn via Mannheim, for example. The railway's cyclists' hotline is 01805/99 66 33 (14 ct/min. from landlines, max. 42 ct/min. from mobile phones).
Bike service:
Addresses for bike hire, guided bike tours and repair facilities: http://www.radwanderland.de
Cycling hotels:
Bicycle-friendly hosts include Pfälzer Hof in Edenkoben, http://www.pfaelzerhof-edenkoben.de
Weisbrod winery in Freinsheim, http://www.weisbrod-freinsheim.de
Peter Winery in Wachenheim, http://www.weingut-peter.de
Hotel Zeiskamer Mühle in Zeiskam, http://www.zeiskamermuehle.de
Further addresses under http://www.bettundbike.de and http://www.kraut-und-rueben-radweg.de
Maps/literature:
Bikeline Radatlas "Rheinpfalz" 1:75,000, 200 p., 12.90 euros. Publicpress cycle map "Kraut-und- Rüben-Radweg" 1:50,000, 4.95 euros.
ADFC cycle tour map sheet 20 "Rhine/Neckar" 1:150,000 at 6.80 euros.
Brochure "The Palatinate. Cabbage and Turnip Cycle Route"
Information (general):
Pfalz.Touristik e. V., Martin-Luther-Straße 69, 67433 Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Tel. 06321/39160, www.pfalz.de
Internet:
