Who is not familiar with the logo ‘Bitte, ein Bit’. Founded in 1817, Bitburger Pils is one of the leading Premium Breweries in Germany. Recognized all over, it is one of the largest privately owned breweries both domestically and internationally. In their seventh generation, tradition with modern management accounts for their global success. ‘Only the best’, this is Bitburger Pils’ philosophy. Hence, only the finest aromatic hops, purest Eifel spring waters, premium barley malts and yeast from their own pure culture sources are used for production according to the German Purity Laws.

Often acting out as a pioneer, Bitburger is innovative in their brewing process. In the past few years, Bitburger has expended €40.000 to make certain that its process production is environmentally responsible. Bitburger has an output of more than 4.1 million hectolitres yearly. No other beer in Germany is drafted and served as much as Bitburger. The Bitburg Premium brand ranks second on the German market. In 2003, the number of establishments that sold Bitburger alone was 48,000 world-wide. Any sports’ fan will recognize the Bitburger logo as they often sponsor minor as well as major sports events. Since 1992, Bitburger has had an official partnership with the German Football association (DFB) and the German National Football Team,

The brewery also sponsors major cultural events such as ‘Rock am Ring’ and musicals such as ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and ‘The Lion King’. On the regional level, the Bitburg Brewery is also very active and supports many local events. Guided tours begin at the historical site of the brewery from Mondays through Thursdays by appointment only. Nearly 40,000 guests are welcomed here annually. The tour begins at the Visitors’ Centre and ends at the brewery manufacturing plant where each of the processing steps are explained. The tour ends with ‘Bitte ein Bit!’ and a sample of a fresh tapped Bitburger. The fee for the tour is €5 per person (16 and under are free) and runs about two hours. Please phone 06561-142497 for further information.

Middle of the Meulen Forest is an unassuming microbrewery where a huge copper kettle stands not merely for decorative purposes as beer is still brewed here. A tour of the brewery is possible by appointment only.

Brauhaus Zils
Waldstraße 1
54340 Naurath (Eifel)
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone 06508-91710
WEB
Distance from Spangdahlem 20 km

Active athletes and leisurely walkers alike love the recreational area atOhmbachsee near Schönenberg-Kübelberg. Nestled in the scenic Ohmbach valley, the reservoir invites guests to promenade along the idyllic boardwalk, take a boat trip onthe lake, or relax on the lawns. A water-playground for kids and grills are all offered free of any charge or entry fee. From the Ohmbach lake, hiking and biking trails lead into the Kusel county.

Hotel-Restaurant Landgut und Campingpark Ohmbachsee
Campingpark Ohmbachsee 1
66901 Schönenberg-Kübelberg
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Phone (0 63 73) 40 01
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In the Reismühle coffee manufactory, the love of tradition and delight are palpable. Natural resources of high quality, fairness and sustainability are key factors when selecting raw coffee to be processed and sold. In this mill, primarily hand-picked coffee from small plantations gets roasted – a process which takes time and care. Guests can enjoy freshly roasted coffee together with homemade pie in the Landcafé. The courtyard offers a beautiful scenery to have your coffee and relax. On advanced notice demonstrations on the roasting process can be given.

Reismühle Kaffeemanufaktur
Reismühle 1
66909 Krottelbach
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Phone (063 84) 92 57 71
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The country castle romantic style Hotel Fasanerie near Zweibrücken is as classy as the princely history is reflects. The noble hotel industry with two excellent restaurants is not only famous because of their food—the former summer residence of the Zweibrücken high nobility is one of the oldest traces of baroque architecture in the region. Worth a visit are the gorgeous outdoor water fountains, the baroque rose garden, and a small castle directly on the Baroque street Saarpfalz.

Fasanerie
Fasaneriestraße 1
66482 Zweibrücken
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Phone (0 63 32) 97 30
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The founding fathers of the allotment garden association "Licht-Luft (Light-Air) Kaiserslautern e.V." would never have dreamt that their traditional restaurant Licht-Luft would still be in business after 100 years. The well-kept destination offers sumptuous seasonal cuisine and state-of-the-art multi-purpose rooms. Licht-Luft is not only for daytime guests. With a beer garden in the facility, you can the restaurant is also perfect for parties and conferences.

Gasthaus Licht-Luft
Entersweilerstraße 51
67657 Kaiserslautern
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone (06 31) 4 22 25 or (06 31) 9 61 00
WEB
Open daily 11 am - 9 pm
Tuesdays starting at 5 pm Schnitzel Special
Wednesdays starting at 5 pm Steak Special

One of the most beautiful destinations for summer vacations in the West Palatinate is right outside of Kaiserslautern. The delightful beer garden of the Hotel-Restaurant Bremerhof offers inviting umbrellas, cool refreshments and delicious dishes: from salads to gourmet meals, there is something for everyone. The location is ideal for families as well as for sports and music enthusiasts. During the "Bremerhofer Musiksommers", lasting three months in the summer, guests enjoy a musically diverse program every Thursday evening, free of charge.

Bremerhof
Bremerhof 1
67663 Kaiserslautern
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone (0631) 31 63 20
Open Monday-Sunday 10 am - 10 pm

Producing locally, selling locally and eating locally. At the Haus Kulinarische Landstraße (Culinary House) in Konken, you can find products made by the independent agricultural marketers of the region Kusel. High-quality pastries, cheese, meat, fruit, vegetables, and honey are just a small selection of the fresh food offered. Exquisite specialties from local suppliers of partner regions in France, Finland, and Poland are also available at the shop.

Haus Kulinarische Landstraße
Hauptstraße 42
66871 Konken
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone 0 63 84 99 32 30
WEB

Dating back to 1263, this moated-castle, known by the locals as Burg Rittersdorf, has been practically preserved in its original state. It conveys an impressive image of late Medieval and early Renaissance architecture, hence making it a prime exemplar of the Eifel’s cultural heritage. Particularly remarkable is the elaborate archway. Located three kilometres north of Bitburg, the medieval castle now accommodates a privately run restaurant and a small museum of local history. The restaurant is well-known for its country cuisine and particularly for its historical Knight’s Feasts.

The Knights’ Feasts are held at regular intervals. After being greeted by the Castle Lord and his squires, servants dressed in medieval attire serve dinner and drinks at the authentically set Knights’ table. Allow jugglers, minstrels, troupers and strolling players entertain you whilst feasting. The feasts can be booked for business and private venues. Naturally you can enjoy the superb country cuisine and first-rate wines in the elegant ambience of the restaurant. The Gothic Knights’ Hall holds a satellite register office, for those wishing to say ‘I do’. What could be more unforgettable than the back drop of a castle? Mr. and Mrs. Hermann can help you with all the details.

Opening hours are Wednesdays-Fridays from 12.00- 14.00 and 18.00-23.00. Weekends and holidays continuous until 23:00.

Burg Rittersdorf
Bitburger Str. 30
54636 Rittersdorf
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Phone 06561-96570
WEB

The idyllic Eiswoog lake, home to freshwater trout, char, and frolicking crayfish, is fed from seven different sources. This natural paradise offers a great place to swim and hike. From here, you can see an impressive historic railway bridge that spans the valley. In the Seehaus Forelle, a light, natural cuisine with regional products is served. The hotel attached to the restaurant is a wonderful place for relaxation.

Seehaus Forelle
Eiswoog 1
67305 Ramsen
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Phone (06356) 6 08 80
WEB

Surrounded by vineyards on the Middle Mosel, the former Cistercian monastery is in an idyllic location on your way from Wittlich to Bernkastel on B50. The monastery complex was restored as recreational facilities. The complex consist of restaurants, wine cabinet, antiques, distillery, brewery, toy museum etc. The word ‘I do’ may also be exchanged here. A tour of the monastery brewery is followed by three samples of beer. A simple must for the beer connoisseur.

Brauhaus Kloster Machern
An der Zeltinger Brücke
54470 Bernkastel-Kues
GOOGLE MAPS
By appointment only, contact:
Phone 06532-95150
Distance from Spangdahlem 35 km

One of the best ways to experience the Mosel landscape is by boat. One can be in awed at the natural wonders of the Mosel Valley with its famous steep vine-yards, bizarre rock formations, numerous castles, monasteries and ever so charming villages and towns with its historical wine cellars and buildings. The German side of the Mosel is over 200 km long where various boats and ships cruise. Throughout the river are steep inclines where multiple locks help tame the water. Six different shipping companies cruise the river offering options on both large and small luxury ships. From Easter until the autumn, visitors may cruise the Mosel on a regular schedule, some even stopping at larger towns. Some cruise ships even offer wine tasting on board.

Moselland Touristik
Phone: 06571-97330

Neumagen-Dhron has one of the oldest vineyards in Germany. During the Roman Empire, wine was already being produced here. Every year, many visitors come here to the many Strausswirtschaften and wine cellars.

Neumagen-Dhron
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone 06507 6555 
Distance from Spangdahlem 50 km

The wonderful views of the Donnersberg and its idyllic ponds make up the preservation area "Sippersfelder Weiher.” At one of the four ponds (the Retzberg pond) the Retzberg hut stands as a cozy destination. You can leave everyday life behind here and enjoy real Palatine delights in the middle of the natural paradise. These treats are predominantly from the region—from Wednesday to Sunday, guests can enjoy original, seasonal cuisine in addition to being spoiled by original Palatine dishes. Take a deep breath and relax with one of the beer specialties.

Retzberghütte Sippersfeld
Am Weiher 1
67729 Sippersfeld
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone (0 63 57) 8 88 00 60
WEB
Open May 1, until September 30, Wednesday and Thursday 11.30 am - 5 pm and Friday-Sunday 11.30 am - 6 pm

The town of Saarburg lies in the bend of the Saar River and it is surrounded by vineyards and verdant forests. The town’s landmark is the castle dating back to 964 which overlooks the valley. The main attraction inside the city is a waterfall, cascading over rocks and then plunges more than twenty meters in the depth. The city has many crooked narrow streets with numerous small bridges. Even the small fishing houses in the Old City are very picturesque. In addition, the city offers extensive leisure facilities including boat tours, bob sledge, an extensive culinary delights and of course a wealth of excellent Riesling wine.

Saarburg
GOOGLE MAPS
Tourist Information Saarburg 
Graf-Siegfried-Straße 32
54439 Saarburg
Phone: 06581 995980
WEB
Distance from Spangdahlem 75 km

Traben-Trarbach is an attractive mix of half-timbered houses and Art Nouveau buildings. The towns of Traben and Trarbach sit directly across the Mosel River from one another. In recent times they have merged their governments and have taken on the combined name, Traben-Trarbach (Traben to the north and Trarbach to the south). The towns host a variety of attractions from the castle ruins and ancient churches, to the slightly more modern Bruckentor built across the Trarbach end of the Mosel bridge. Despite its architectural and historical wealth, Traben-Trarbach is better known for the wine produced from Riesling grapes. The city, like many others on the Mosel, is built in the valley, with every centimeter of hillside covered by vineyards. The best time to visit and sample the local nectar is during their annual Wine Festival each July.

Traben-Trarbach
GOOGLE MAPS
Tourist-Information Traben-Trarbach
Station 5
56841 Traben-Trarbach
Phone: 06541-83980
WEB
Distance from Spangdahlem 50 km

This unassuming city located on the Mosel River Valley is everything but unassuming. How should one describe Trier? Germany’s oldest city, capital of the former Western Roman Empire, seat of Roman emperors as well as Prince Electors, home to Karl Marx, a university city, home to numerous UNESCO WHL monuments, all of this and much more is Trier. During a concert in Trier, the jazz musician, Al Jarreau, said that ‘Trier is the best-kept secret’. How right he was. Rich in history, Trier is more than 2000 years old, this however, dating back only from antiquity. Its origins it said to have begun 1300 years before the founding of Rome by Prince Trebeta. Trebeta fleeing persecution from his stepmother Queen Semiramis eventually came across the Mosel River Valley. Enchanted by the surroundings, here he stayed. Of course, no documented proof exists verifying this legend. However, the citizens of Trier claim this as their origin.

In mid-fifies BC, Julius Ceasar stumbled upon Trier. In 16 BC, Trier officially becomes a Roman city and is named after the Emperor Augusta. Hence, Augustus Treverorum was founded. As the Roman Empire continued to expand, Trier also continued to flourish. When Diocletian divided his empire into four regions in the late third century, Trier became the capital of the north-western territory, the Rome of the north, if you will. In the late third century, the first emperor came to rule. Trier is now an Imperial Residential City. Constantine rules in Trier in the early 4th century. Trier remains in Roman hands until the 5th century when it fell under Frankish rule. Thereupon, Trier is constantly under siege by one country or tribe. In 1212, Trier finally received its charter. Throughout the centuries, numerous Prince Electors rule in Trier until Napoleon dissolved the electoral archbishopric. After Napoleon’s defeat in 1815 at Waterloo, Trier becomes a part of the Kingdom of Prussia. The unification of Germany leads Trier to become a part of the German Empire. World War II bombings destroyed nearly 50% of the city with more than over 1600 buildings and homes being devastated.

After WWII, Trier’s economy begins to prosper. It has become known to become a ’shopping mecca‘, not only for the surrounding vicinity but for the neighbouring countries as well. What better place to shop than with the historical backdrop of Trier’s Old Town and market square where department stores, specialty shops and boutiques are to be found. A location not to be missed is slightly off the pedestrian area is Neustrasse, where many individual and family-run businesses and shops are hidden and should not be overseen. Find more information here.

In 1971, the university is finally able to open its doors after being closed during the Napoleonic wars. Trier is now known as a university city where the students bring on a lot of nightlife for the young and the young at heart. Numerous pubs, discos, outdoor cafés, beer gardens invite one to stay a while. For music fans, Trier offers many venues for live music whether for Punk, Classic, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Alternative or Rock from local to mainstream bands.

Trier is copious with restaurants and ‘Gaststätte’ often set in historical buildings, serving everything from Roman cuisine, over Cuban and sushi to the ubiquitous schnitzel. Many restaurants offer live music or cabarets, and many monuments often have culture and culinary affairs, what better combination could there possibly be? Not to be missed are Zurlauben, the old fisherman’s port with its string of pubs and restaurants overlooking the Mosel and Trier’s beach club, Bit Sun Beach. In 1984, Trier celebrated its 2000th anniversary. In 1986, Roman Trier was proclaimed to be a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. 2007 was hailed the ‘Year of Constantine’ and in 2012 the Holy Tunic will be on display again commemorating when it was first publicly displayed 500 years ago.

Trier is also home to one of the most romantic Christmas markets in Germany. Starting on the first advent weekend, Trier’s Christmas market seems magical set in the medieval market square and the imposing backdrop of St. Peter’s Cathedral. Several festivals should not be missed such as the ‘Altstadtfest’ (Old Town Festival), where the entire pedestrian area gets set into a party zone! The Roman festival, Bread and Circuses, held on the second weekend of August is a must for fans of antiquity. English guides may be arranged for groups as well as for individual guests.

Trier
GOOGLE MAPS
Tourist Information Trier
Porta Nigra
54290 Trier
Phone: 0651 978080
WEB
Distance from Spangdahlem 30 km

Nestled in the dreamlike nature of the biosphere reserve Palatinate forest (Pfälzerwald) - Vosges du Nord forms the destination Unterhammer in the Karlstal, a starting point for many leisure activities. Here, the former iron mill (Eisenhammer) houses two vacation apartments next to the Kultur-Café and sport center.

Right at the doorstep, hikers and pilgrims alike start their journey along St. Jacob’s Path (Jakobsweg) and mountain-bikers ride through the mountain bike park. Special highlight: watching beer being brewed in the brewery then tasting it in the beer garden!

Unterhammer
Unterhammer 1-3
67705 Trippstadt
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone (0 63 06) 99 12 66
WEB
Café Unterhammer open Monday-Sunday, 12 am - 6 pm
Unterhammer Brewery tour only available by appointment, call (06306) 70 14 60

Photo: Ralf Keller

Those who are clearly "under-hopped" during summer should get a refill at the Valentins beer garden in Zweibrücken. The tavern keeps its promises. With over 600 seats, the Bavarian pub offers all that which makes a hearty beer garden great. There is the home-made brew “Zweibrücker Hell”, hearty treats and comfortable benches under old trees. The garden is open from May to October for cheerful get-togethers with a Bavarian flair.

Valentins Biergarten
Geschwister-Scholl-Allee 13
66482 Zweibrücken
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone (0 63 32) 4 81 63 02
WEB

The Mosel is rich with vineyards. Known world-wide for its quality and flavour, the Mosel has been cultivating and producing wine for more than 2000 years. The steep vineyards with their extensive terraces together with the valleys, the sandstone and slate create this unique cultural landscape. The vineyards cover more than 10,000 hectares and more than three-quarters of the grape variety ‘Riesling’ grow here. Their fruit acidity give the Riesling wine its crisp distinctive flavour, thus making it a favourite amongst culinary specialities. Several vineyards along the Mosel are world famous. These include, for example, ’Kröver Nacktarsch‘, ’Ürziger Schwarzlay‘, ’Piesporter Goldtröpfchen‘, ’Bernkasteler Burgdoktor‘ or ’Zeller Schwarze Katz‘. Harvest in the autumn is indeed a unique experience. Numerous winegrowers are always happy to welcome guests to sample their wines.

Tourist-Information Römische Weinstraße
Brückenstraße 26
54338 Schweich
Phone: 06502-407117

What would the Mosel Valley be without their wine festivals? The annual highlight for many vineyards and towns are their yearly festivals. From summer to autumn, experience first hand ’Moselland‘ culture. See how wine is firmly embedded in their traditions and how good wine, good food and good moods all go hand in hand.

When and where these celebrations take place?

Contact Moselland Touristik GmbH
Phone: 06571-97330
WEB