Page 352 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

350  WESTERN GERM AN Y RHINELAND P ALA TINA TE & SAARLAND  351

when the newly anointed bishop
would order it to be filled with 6 Deutsche Weinstraße
wine right to the brim in order
to win the hearts of his flock. The “German Wine Route” starts in Bockenheim
Another 11th-century and ends in Schweigen, near the Alsatian town of
interesting building is the Weißenburg. The tour suggested here includes the
Mikwe in Judenbadgasse, a
ritual Jewish bath for women, most interesting sections of this route. This is one of
and the remains of a synagogue the most beautiful parts of Germany, where visitors
nearby. To the west of the will encounter aspects of German and European
Dom stand the remains of the historical and cultural heritage at every step, 8 Bad Dürkheim
medieval fortifications including set among the picturesque scenery of the This famous resort is
the Altpörtel, a 14th- to 16th- endless vineyards covering the sun- best known for its
century town gate. The late- Tombstones in the Heiliger Sand Jewish annual Wurstmarkt,
Baroque Dreifaltigkeits kirche cemetery in Worms drenched slopes of the Pfälzer Wald. held in September.
(church of the Holy Trinity), Despite its name, it
Altar in the Dreifaltigkeitskirche, in Speyer built in 1701–17, is an Neumann, and the stalls dating 6 St Martin 7 Hambacher Schloß NATURPARK celebrates the wine
architectural masterpiece with from 1760. A short distance from Not much remains The castle’s fame is based PFALZER WALD harvest, and sausages
4 Speyer marvellous interiors. the cathedral is the Marktplatz of the Romanesque on the Hambacher Fest take second place.
(market square), with the church of St Martin, when, on 27 May 1832,
Road map B6. * 47,000. £ but the 16–18th- students protested against
n Maximilianstraße 13 (06232-14 23 5 Worms interesting Dreifaltigkeits­ century buildings the fragmentation of
92). _ Brezelfest (Jul), Kaisertafel (Aug), kirche church of the Holy Trinity surviving in the Germany. It was restored
Altstadtfest (Sep), Bauernmarkt (Sep). Road map B5. * 83,000. £ (1709–25). Northeast of the town continue to and is now a national 5 Landau
n Neumarkt 14 (06241-853 7306). square stands the Stiftskirche enchant visitors. monument and museum. This little town
In the 7th century, Speyer was St Paul (church of St Paul), built has the remains of
the seat of a diocese. As a free Worms is one of the oldest in the 11th–12th centuries and 4 Trifels the fortress built
city of the Holy Roman Empire towns in Germany. In the Middle completed in the 18th century, This grim, ruined castle once served as a by Vauban, and
from 1294 until 1779, 50 sessions Ages it was the home of the with original 13th century wall prison for many important people, including J an extraordinarily
of the imperial parliament took Reich’s Parliament, hosting more paintings. Nearby is the only the King of England, Richard the Lionheart. J beautiful post-
place here. The most famous than 100 sessions. The Dom St surviving Renaissance Augustinian
church.
session was in 1529, when the Peter is one of the largest residential building in
Protestant states of the Holy late-Romanesque Worms, the Rotes
Roman Empire lodged a cathedrals in Haus (red house).
protest (hence “Protestant”) Germany, along In the western part
against the decisions of the with the cathedrals of the old town is the
Catholic majority. in Mainz and Heili ger Sand (holy
The most important historic Speyer. It was built sands), the oldest
building in Speyer is the in 1171–1230 as a Jewish cemetery in
Romanesque Kaiserdom (St two-choir basilica, Europe; the earliest
Maria und St Stephan), a World with eastern A relief from 1488, in the tombstones date
Heritage Site. For a time, before transept, four Dom in Worms from the 11th and 3 Leinsweiler J
being superseded by the towers and two 12th centuries. Also Hilltop Hof
gigantic abbey of Cluny in domes. Its northern nave worth a visit is the 14th-century Neukastel was J
Burgundy, this was the largest includes five beautiful sand- Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our once the home J
monumental Romanesque stone reliefs from a Gothic Dear Lady). The most noteworthy of the German 2 Bad Bergzabern
building in Europe. The Dom, cloister, which no longer exists. feature of the Magnuskirche impressionist This town has some interesting
built in 1025–61 on the initiative The interior furnishings date (11th–12th centuries) is its artist Max Renaissance remains, including
of Conrad II, is a triple-nave, mainly from modern times. crypt, from around AD 800, Slevogt, and to Kingbeach the Gasthaus zum Engel
this day, wall
cross-vaulted basilica with Particularly note worthy is the while the Stiftskirche paintings by (Angel’s Inn) and a royal castle.
transept, vestibule, choir, high altar designed in St Martin (late 11th the artist can
apse and several towers. Its the 18th century century) has some be seen here.
magnificent triple-nave crypt, by Balthasar interesting portals. J Tips for Drivers
the burial place of Salian
emperors, has stunning stone 0 km 5 Length: 83 km (51 miles).
carvings, some worked by 0 miles 5 Stopping-off points: Landau
Lombard stonemasons. St Afra’s, has many cafés and restaurants.
dating from around 1100, has Key The spa town of Bad Dürkheim,
some interesting sculptures, Suggested route with its cafés and wine bars, is
including Christ Bearing His Cross 1 Dörrenbach Scenic route also a good place to stop.
and Annunciation (around 1470). The star attractions in this small Other road Signs: Look for signposts
The Domnapf, a vast stone bowl town are the half- timbered town showing a bunch of grapes or
seen at the cathedral forecourt, hall and the Gothic church River, lake a wine jug.
dates from 1490. It was used surrounded by fortifications. Viewpoint
during enthroning ceremonies, The vast Romanesque Dom St Peter in WormsThe vast Romanesque Dom St Peter in Worms
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p499 and pp524–5

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.2)
Date 15th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm