Kaiserslautern

Kaiserslautern is known as the “city of woods”, due to its proximity to the Palatinate Forest in south west Germany, which combined with the neighbouring Vosges Mountains in France forms a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The city is known as a technological and educational centre, yet combined with its modernity is a strong sense of history and culture. In addition, being surrounded by the Palatinate Forest, Kaiserslautern offers visitors the chance to hike or cycle in the nearby countryside.

Attractions

The city centre has a number of historical sites to visit. The old city begins at St Martin’s Square, which leads to the Imperial Palace, built in the 12th century on the orders of Frederick I. Near the palace is the Town Hall, standing at 84 metres high and one of the city’s prominent landmarks, with spectacular views of the city and neighbouring Palatinate Forest from the top. A pub called the Spinning Wheel dates back to 1740 and is the only remaining timber-framed building in Kaiserslautern.

The Collegiate Church dates back to Frederick I’s time, and is constructed on the ruins of a monastery. It is an important piece of Gothic architecture, and in the entrance hall is a memorial dedicated to key figures in the Lutheran movement.

The Theodor Zink Museum houses exhibits relating to the city’s folklore and history. Close by, the Wadgasserhof manor was owned by the ruler of the area, Count Palatine Ludwig-Philipp, in the 17th century, and reminds visitors of its noble past. The Fruit Hall was built in the 19th century in the Renaissance style, and used to be a market hall, but today is used for concerts and other public events.

The Japanese Garden was established in 2000 as a result of Kaiserslautern being twinned with the city of Bunkyo-ku in Japan, and is one of the largest parks on the Continent. It contains many elements of a typical Japanese garden, and plays host to a number of cultural events and exhibits.

Shopping

The city centre offers visitors a number of shops and boutiques that sell branded goods as well as locally produced items and handicrafts.

Nightlife and Eating Out

Kaiserslautern has a range of local, national, as well as international cuisine on offer to visitors. For Palatinate specialities, such as pork stomach or sauerkraut and salami pizza, Spinnraedl is highly recommended. For international cuisine, there are many French, Italian, Indian, and Oriental restaurants to try.

The city centre has many bars and pubs where visitors can try German and foreign beers and liqueurs. Some of the more popular and better-known bars and pubs include Hannen Fass, The Harp, Chuck’s Diner, and Thursty Nelly’s.

Tourist Information

Airport

The closest international airport is Saarbrucken, around 55 kilometres away, with regular and charter flights to a number of European destinations. Frankfurt’s airport, around 120 kilometres away, is another option as it offers more services to more destinations.

Kaiserslautern is well located in terms of access to other European cities, and travelling by train, Paris can be reached in 5 hours, Basel in 4 hours, and Luxemburg in around 2 hours.

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