Back Roads Germany (Dk Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

161

Above View of the surrounding countryside

from Burg Landeck, Klingenmünster

Below Dense forest near Burg Trifels

DRIVE 15: The German Wine Route

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

Wine Country

Vineyards dominate the picture-

perfect land scape of the Pfalz and

Rheinhessen region. Many local wine

growers have a room set aside to

sample and buy wines from the

vineyard itself. However, German

win e ries tend to be family-run affairs,

so it is wise to call before visit ing. Dry

white wines predo mi nate – Rieslings

are often excel lent. Red wines made

with the Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)

grape are also gaining popularity.

The region also produces Sekt (spark-

ling wines) and small quantities of

Tresterbrand, the German equiva lent

of the spirit grappa.

5 Annweiler
Rhineland-Palatinate; 76855
A former Free City of the Holy Roman
Empire, Annweiler lies on the Queich
river, which was once harnessed to
provide power for the town’s tanner-
ies. The Gerberviertel (tannery district)
is particularly picturesque, with its
water mill and half-timbered houses,
three of which house the local history
museum, the Museum Unterm Trifels

(Mid-Mar–Nov: closed Mon; Nov–mid-
Mar: open Sat & Sun).

6 Burg Trifels

Rhineland-Palatinate; 76855

Perched on a narrow crag 984 ft

(300 m) above Annweiler, Burg Trifels

(Jan–Nov: open daily) is reached after a

beautiful looping ascent through the

forest. First mentioned in the 11th

century, the castle was where the

Salian emperors kept the imperial

regalia of the Holy Roman Empire;

Richard the Lionheart was briefly a

prisoner here in 1193. The ruined

castle was exten sively restored

between 1938 and 1942. Visitors can

also explore two more castle ruins –

Scharfenberg and Anebos – which

crown neighboring crags.

ª Return to Annweiler on

Trifelsstrasse, leaving Annweiler on

Landauerstrasse. Rejoin the B10 and

then turn onto Weinstrasse to reach

the village of Siebeldingen.

EAT AND DRINK

DEUTSCHES WEINTOR

Deutsches Weintor Restaurant

moderate

Elegantly modern, the restaurant

at the Deutsches Weintor serves

creative dishes based on regional

and seasonal ingredients accompanied

by red and white Pfalz wines.

Weinstrasse 4, 76889 Schweigen-

Rechtenbach; 06342 922 78 88;

http://www.weintor.de; open daily

AROUND BURG LANDECK

Café Rosinchen inexpensive

In a pretty, half-timbered house

on Klingenmünster’s main street,

Café Rosinchen serves homemade

cakes, soups, and Alsatian-style

Flammkuchen (pizzas).

Weinstrasse 39, 76889 Klingenmünster

(half a mile/1 km from Burg Landeck);

06349 33 93; closed Mon

LEINSWEILER

Leinsweiler Hof moderate–expensive

This restaurant provides lovely

views across the countryside of

the southern Weinstrasse. The

menu emphasises regional and

seasonal produce and includes

refined versions of local specialities

such as Saumagen.

Weinstrasse, 76829; 06345 40 90;

http://www.leinsweilerhof.de

ANNWEILER

S’Reiwerle inexpensive

Housed in a lovely half-timbered

house in the center of Annweiler,

this traditional Weinstube (wine bar)

and restaurant serves dishes such

as Saumagen or lamb sausages

with savoy cabbage.

Flitschberg 7, 76855; 06346 92 93 62;

http://www.reiwerle.de; open Wed–Mon

ª Leave the town of Annweiler

along Altenstrasse, turning left on

to Trifelsstrasse and follow signs to

Burg Trifels. Park below the Burg.

who died in 1932 and is buried here.
His house, the Slevogthof (open daily),
stands on a hillside below the ruined
fortress of Neukastel; the music room
and library contain wall and ceiling
paintings by the artist.
ª Continue to Birkweiler, take the
access road up to the B10, turning left
for Annweiler. Be careful as this is a
dangerous junction. Park near the town
hall and tourist information office.