The Pfalz and Rhine Terrace Feature

Wine: German Rieslings are some of the most versatile white wines in the world—on their own or with food. For many, discovering Germany's drier-style wines is a revelation.

Festivals: Wine is a great excuse for merrymaking, and there are scores of wine festivals throughout the region. The biggest and best is the Bad Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt in the town of Bad Dürkheim, which features a wine barrel the size of a building.

Pfälzerwald: The Palatinate Forest is a paradise for hiking and cycling. Even a brief walk under the beautiful pine and chestnut trees is relaxing and refreshing.

Castles: Burg Trifels and Schloss Villa Ludwigshöhe are a contrast in style, inside and out. Both are wonderful settings for concerts.

Cathedrals: The cathedrals in Speyer, Worms, and Mainz are the finest examples of grand-scale Rhenish Romanesque architecture in Germany.