District

Grethen

Grethen lies in the green Isenach valley, framed by wooded slopes west of the Bad Dürkheim town centre, and has always been regarded as the gateway to the Hardenburg. Along the babbling Isenach stream, shady walking and hiking trails lead through the cool town forest up to the mighty castle ruin of the Counts of Leiningen, one of the largest castle ruins in the Palatinate. With its old farmsteads, meadows and orchard trees, the tranquil village preserves a rural, almost dreamy character right on the edge of the vast Palatinate Forest. Popular tours start here on well-marked paths, for instance to the Drachenfels, deep into the Isenach valley or onward to Hardenburg and Frankeneck. Anyone wishing to leave the bustle of the spa town behind finds calm, birdsong and fresh forest air here. After the hike, a cosy stop at the garden tavern, hearty Palatinate specialities such as Saumagen or liver dumplings, and a cool glass of Riesling spritzer beckon. In autumn, when the foliage glows and the spritzer sparkles in the sun, the valley shows its finest side. With its brook, woods and quick link to the town centre, Grethen is an ideal base for nature lovers, families and anyone wanting to discover the original, green side of Bad Dürkheim.