Palatinate Forest
The Palatinate Forest, Germany’s largest contiguous forest area and largest nature park, is located in the southwest of Germany. With its unique combination of rolling hills, dense forests, bizarre rock formations and picturesque vineyards, it offers the perfect destination for an unforgettable vacation.
The heart of the Palatinate Forest is its breathtaking nature. Endless forests, mainly consisting of beech and pine trees, alternate with open valleys and red sandstone cliffs. These unique red rocks have been sculpted by wind and weather into bizarre shapes. The Palatinate Forest Nature Park is also part of the cross-border UNESCO Palatinate Forest-North Vosges biosphere reserve. Rare animal and plant species can be found here.
The Palatinate Forest is a dream destination for hikers. A dense network of over 12,000 kilometers of marked hiking trails criss-crosses the region and offers tours for every level of difficulty. Many trails lead to idyllically situated hiking huts, which are often run by Palatinate Forest associations on a voluntary basis and invite you to enjoy a hearty snack with regional specialties. You can also enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the seemingly endless forest landscape from numerous vantage points.
And what would the Palatinate be without its wine? The German Wine Route begins at the edge of the Palatinate Forest and attracts visitors with its charming wine villages and excellent wineries. Combine a hike through the forest with a stop at a cozy wine tavern, where you can enjoy fine wines and hearty Palatinate cuisine. Be sure to try specialties such as Saumagen, liver dumplings or Palatinate sausage salad – all accompanied by a good glass of Palatinate wine.
Holiday region German Wine Route
While in early spring there is usually hardly a spot of colour to be seen in the grey-brown mishmash of nature, in the Palatinate town of Gimmeldingen the splendour of early almond blossom can be admired.
Travel information
Arrival
By plane
The largest airport in the region is Frankfurt am Main.
By train
IC or ICE trains run to Neustadt an der Weinstraße and Kaiserslautern. The Bad Kreuznach – Kaiserslautern – Pirmasens and Landau in der Pfalz – Pirmasens Nord – Zweibrücken railway lines are also important for regional traffic.
On the way in...
By train
The main regional train lines are Bad Kreuznach – Kaiserslautern – Pirmasens and Landau in der Pfalz – Pirmasens Nord – Zweibrücken.
By car
The A6 and A62 motorways run in and along the edge of the Palatinate Forest. The B10 forms an important transport link between Pirmasens and Landau in der Pfalz. The other roads are often only passable at reduced speeds due to gradients and bends and some bottlenecks.