Virtual offers – Digital museum visits and more
You can enjoy museum visits, wine tastings and music events in the Romantic Cities from the comfort of your own home. Our overview gives you information on upcoming events.
In Speyer, all paths lead to the cathedral: In 2021, the world’s largest surviving Romanesque church was celebrating its 40th year as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is still an impressive sight for most visitors. From the tower, you can enjoy wonderful views over the city, the Rhine and the Odenwald mountains to the east, and the Palatinate Forest to the west. It’s the perfect spot to plan a few excursions. As all paths lead to the cathedral, the reverse is also true, and it is a wonderful place from which to explore the surrounding area. Perhaps a stroll along Maximilianstrasse, the city’s main promenade, or a wander through the romantic streets past shops and cafés, medieval half-timbered houses and Baroque façades.
Or hop on your bike and use Speyer, with its many restaurants and accommodation options, as a base for exploring the region. Along the Rhine, through the Kurpfalz or in the vineyards of the Palatinate: There is a map available from the tourist information centre showing all the different cycle routes for all different levels of fitness.
Cyclists in front of Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Palatinate
Rhine Cycle Route: A relaxed ride along the river becomes a cultural adventure. The Rhine Cycle Route connects Speyer to Worms, home to another monumental cathedral and lots of interesting churches. You can head to the Nibelungen Museum to find out more about the legendary treasure before enjoying a delicious glass of Palatinate wine on the banks of the river.
Kurpfalz Route: Cyclists can ride off the beaten track and head off on a relatively flat route towards Heidelberg. One perfect spot for a break along the way is Schwetzingen Palace, with its magnificent palace gardens. A direct train connection back to Speyer takes the strain out of the ride back.
Cycle tour through the vineyards on the German Wine Route, Palatinate
From the Rhine to the wine: The name promises an indulgent ride, and the 31-kilometre route delivers on its promises. It leads from Speyer west through the Rhine plain and ends in Edesheim an der Weinstraße, a village set among vineyards, with plenty of opportunities to taste the local wines and indulge in delicacies of all kinds.
Emperor Conrad Cycle Trail: Cyclists weave through wetlands and vineyards in the footsteps of the Salians, who gave Speyer its cathedral and much more. The destination is Bad Dürkheim an der Weinstraße, where the ruins of the Limburg monastery are a reminder of the same powerful dynasty. The southern loop now heads directly to Speyer, while if you stick on the northern loop as far as Worms, you will cover 130 kilometres, twice the distance.
Schönborn Cycle Trail: Prince-Bishop Damian Hugo Schönborn was the Bishop of Speyer in the 18th century. He had a magnificent residence built in Bruchsal, which was part of the diocese of Speyer for nearly 750 years. His palace is around 35 kilometres along the cycle trail and is now open to visitors.
Palatia Route: The path leads through a flat landscape criss-crossed with streams to Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Cyclists can take a break at one of the many cafés on the market square before continuing their adventures in the Palatinate Forest or on the Deutsche Weinstraße.
World Heritage Cycle Trail: This route takes in three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Maulbronn Monastery, Speyer Cathedral and Lorsch Abbey. The route starts from Speyer and cyclists have the choice of heading for Lorsch in the north or crossing the hills of the Kraichgau to Maulbronn.
Odenwald Madonna Route: This cycle route passes through Madonnenländchen, a stretch of land dotted with religious figures, wayside shrines and churches. The first stage takes cyclists over the Rhine to Heidelberg and they then follow the Neckar to Zwingenberg. Then it is on through the Odenwald and the Tauber valley to the end of the route in Tauberbischofsheim.
Picnic among the vines, Palatinate
