Mellow wine country, lush orchards, Palatinate Forest with quiet valleys and murmuring streams and a Mediterranean climate – all this can be found on the German Wine Cycle Route. The first wine tourism route in Germany begins in the north near Bockenheim (not far from Worms) and ends around 85 km away at the French border in Schweigen-Rechtenbach. The section from Maikammer to Schweigen-Rechtenbach is known as the Southern Wine Route. The wine gives the landscape its very special character. Here, the attractions of the Palatinate Forest meet vineyards and numerous castles and palaces – Hambach Castle, Wachtenburg Castle, Neuleiningen Castle, Trifels Castle and Villa Ludwigshöhe Castle, to name just a few. Winemakers show off their skills in small, cosy wine taverns, and also in modern wine shops. You should also try some traditional Palatinate specialities, such as pig’s stomach, liver dumplings and white asparagus. Fan of gourmet cuisine will be in their element here too. Countless wine festivals allow guests to sample the region’s high-quality wines and get to know the open, friendly people of the Palatinate.