Page 169 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Germany

DRIVE 15: The German Wine Route 167

oppenheim.de), which organ izes tours
of the Oppenheimer Kellerlabyrinth
(tours Sat, Sun & public hols), an exten­
sive subterranean network of cellars
and passageways. Merianstrasse leads
onto the Marktplatz 6, dominated
by the 17th­century Rathaus. Cross the
square to reach the Catholic church of
St Bartholomäus, once part of a now­
vanished Franciscan monastery. Follow
Kirchstrasse to Wormserstrasse to the Above Oppenheim’s Marktplatz, lined with tall buildings
Deutsches Weinbaumuseum 7 (Apr–
Oct: closed Mon; www.dwm-content.de), f Speyer VISITING WORMS
with exhibits on Germany’s wine­ Rhineland-Palatinate; 67346 Parking
making history. Walk back up The smallest of Pfalz’s three great The Parkhaus Am Dom is a two­
Wormserstrasse and turn left into cathedral cities is also the most per­ minute walk from the Dom, Rathaus
Rathofstrasse, following the street fectly preser ved, with a broad main and Marktplatz.
around to the Rathofkapelle 8, a tiny street, Maximilianstrasse, which runs Tourist Information
chapel which is now a restau rant. west from the Kaiserdom (open daily). Am Neumarkt 14, 67547; 06241 853 73
Beyond it, a plaque com memo rates One of the fin est surviving examples 06; www.worms.de; Apr–Oct: open
Oppenheim’s Jewish community on of Romanesque architecture in daily; Nov–Mar: open Mon–Fri
the site of a synagogue destroyed on Europe, the imperial cathedral is a
“Kristallnacht” in an anti­Jew attack in UNESCO World Heritage Site. EAT AND DRINK
1938 in Nazi Germany. At the end of
the Rathofstrasse, turn left into OPPENHEIM
Krämer strasse, which ends at the La Piazza moderate
Gautor, a surviving gate of the town A welcoming Italian restaurant
walls, built in 1566. Exit through the overlooking the main square, La Piazza
gate to return to the car park. serves fresh Mediterranean food with
ª Leave Oppenheim along the B9/ a local twist at good prices.
Merianstrasse 5, 55276; 06133
Rheinstrasse to Guntersblum, turn 614 28 42
right and continue through Alsheim
and Osthofen to Worms. Restaurant Völker expensive
This restaurant was once home to
Paul Wallot, architect of the Reichstag in
d Worms Berlin. Excellent wines are available here.
Rhineland-Palatinate; 67547 Krämerstrasse 7, 55276; 06133 22 69;
One of Germany’s oldest cities, Above Heiliger Sand, an ancient Jewish cemetery www.restaurant-voelker.de; open Fri–
Worms is closely associated with in Worms Sun; closed Jan
Protestant reformer Martin Luther SPEYER
and the Legend of the Nibelungen Jews of the Rhineland Ratskeller moderate
from Germanic mythology. It boasts Jewish culture was established in Brick­vaulted cellar­restaurant beneath
a magnificent 12th­century cathedral, the region in the 10th century with Speyer’s 18th­century town hall.
the Dom St Peter (open daily), and an settlements in Speyer, Worms and Maximilianstrasse 12, 67346; 06232 786
ancient Jewish cemetery, Heiliger Mainz. The cities had a major influ­ 12; www.ratskeller-speyer.de; closed Sun
dinner & Mon
Sand (open daily), where the oldest ence on the development of
grave stone dates from 1076. Ashkenazi Jewish culture, since it was Zum Alten Engel moderate
ª Follow Ludwigstrasse to the B9, here in the early Middle Ages that Cosy cellar­restaurant that is an
adherent of the Slow Food move ment.
the Yiddish language emerged as an
then follow signs for Speyer. At Speyer offshoot of the Middle High German. Mühlturmstrasse 7, 67346; 06232 709 14;
follow signs for Zentrum along the B39. www.zumaltenengel.de
DAY TRIP OPTIONS Freinsheim y. Oenophiles can take Castles and villages
The route can be broken down into the drive from Mainz o to Worms Those interested in art and architecture
day trips for those with less time or a d through some of the most can explore fairy­tale castles and
special interest to follow. popular wine­growing villages. charming half­timbered villages
along the route from Bad Bergzabern
Wine country Follow the driving instructions from
Food and wine lovers should head to Edenkoben to Freinsheim, then follow 2 to Burg Trifels 6.
Edenkoben 8 and stop at the restau­ the route to Mainz. From Mainz follow Follow the driving instructions from
rants and wineries along the route to instructions to Worms. Bad Bergzabern to Burg Trifels.

Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €40

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