For those who like outdoor activities or those who are just nature lovers, the fulfilment of their wishes is never far away in the Palatinate.  Within the patchwork of forest, meadows, vineyards, mountains and the plain, you will find your place and activity with which to banish and forget your work stress.  Whether you are a wanderer, or a quiet nature lover, or prefer more athletic pursuits, you will have many opportunities to fulfil these and discover the beauty and harmony of the Palatinate region.

Cycling and Mountain biking

The Palatinate region offers probably the best network of cycling tracks found within Germany.  All areas of the Palatinate are well developed, including the vineyards, the Rhine Valley plains and the Palatinate forest.  The hobby cyclist will find quiet and lonely roads and family tracks closed from public road traffic, or the hundreds of kilometers of gentle forest mountainbike tracks, while the more ambitious or athletic race cyclists will find winding roads and tracks leading up hills to the highest points in the Palatinate Forest.  More challenging still are the endless cross-country or off-track mountainbike routes throughout the forest and mountains within which to find your own little heaven.

A special day for all fun cyclists (and good inline skaters as well) is the ‘Experience Day’ on the German Wine Road.  This weekend event is held every year at the end of August, where the whole of the wine road  is closed to public road traffic, and only cyclist and skaters of all abilities, are aloud.  Don’t miss this event if you enjoy cycling, wonderful views, great food,  in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere.  By the way, throughout the summer a total of eleven such ‘Experience Days’ are held across the Palatinate region.  Fancy for more information? We would be delighted to help you!

Climbing

The Palatinate forest and the Wasgau, including the Northern Alsace, contain some of the top climbing spots in Germany.  The red sandstones rocks, visible on nearly all mountain tops offer a wide range of difficulties, from beginners level (including just creeping around the rocks for fun) up to the absolute top level only suitable for the crème de la crème of the climbing heroes.

Other activities

The range of activities in palatinate is endless. Beside the popular activities like walking, cycling or climbing you have the chance to paraglide and enjoy the green mountaints and the vineyards from above, or you can use a kayak  or canoe and follow the waterways, or explore the unspoilt natural forested meadows and wetlands of the ‘Altrhein’ (oxbow lakes from the old River Rhine).

If you are less athletically inclined but still want to enjoy the scenery why not hire a motor scooter and explore the forests and vineyards on small roads, or visit the cosy villages along the German Wine Road.

The opportunities are endless, for all members of the family, dad can go mountainbiking, while mum relaxes at a lovely quiet spot maybe enjoying watercolour painting while the children play hide & seek.  Alternatively, why not take the children to the Zoo Landau   or the Technik Museum  in medieval cathedral city of Speyer, or join in and have fun with local kids, they will be welcome!