The city center of Kaiserslautern has a new shopping world. With around 20,900 square meters of state-of-the-art architecture, “The K,” with its trendy shops and unbeatable selection, redefines shopping. But, there’s more than just shopping offered on the four sprawling levels. With its hip cafes and restaurants and also interesting events and exhibitions, “The K” is quickly becoming the trendy meeting place of the city.

K in Lautern
Fackelrondell 1
67665 Kaiserslautern
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone (06 31) 31 06 70
WEB
Open Monday-Saturday, 9.30 am - 8 pm

The southwest Palatinate tour guides are always on the move with heart and a lot of dedication. They work to give visitors a closer look at the beauties of the region. With a plethora diversified guided tours, guests have the opportunity to discover dreamlike trails legendary in the Südwestpfalz, or to wander on the remnants of the past, the present and the future. The guided hikethrough the rock canyon of the witches gorge is especially popular.

Südwestpfalz Gästeführer Interessengemeinschaft
c/o Vera Ulrich
Bismarckstr. 109
66953 Pirmasens
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone 0 63 31 6 39 59, or 01 60 95 00 90 82
WEB

Between the first to fourth century AD, the Romans produced pottery in the forest between Speicher and Herforst. A special feature of Roman pottery is the red fired pottery from the fourth century which were only produced here. For the collectors of such objects, the company Plewa has objects on display. Products from their production line may be purchased at their shop.

Further information
Townhall Speicher
Phone: 06562-640

In the Museum of Local History (Heimatmuseum) numerous exhibits depict the lives of the local residents throughout the centuries. The exhibition has been lovingly put together. There are also some ancient exhibits.

Heimatmuseum
Jacobsstraße 57 
54662 Speicher
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone: 06562 640

Distance from Spangdahlem 5 km

With more than 70 members, the association of dog friends ‘Hundefreunde Speicher’ is the largest kennel club in the region. The kennel club offers numerous training programmes such as agility and obedience which are successfully implemented.

WEB
Phone: 06568 7392

The road connects about 100 Roman sights throughout the holiday regions of Mosel-Saar, Eifel, Hunsrück, Saarland and Luxembourg Mosel to a great ‘Archaeological Park’. Along the way, one will find ruins of Roman buildings and villas as well as thoroughly reconstructed, such as the Roman Villa in Borg. Additionally, those wishing to spoil their palate, ‘Straße der Römer’ offers ‘Ancient Foods’ in which the Roman kitchen has been revived and reinterpreted.

WEB

In Tawern is a good impression of the Gallo-Roman temple architecture dedicated to the God of Mercury. Under the leadership of the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier, the temple was excavated in 1986-87 and reconstructed. The temple was built approximately 200 metres off the Roman Road Agrippina Colonia in the first half of the first century AD. In the year 392 AD, Emperor Theodosius permanently banned pagan cults and gifts of the holy district destroyed and gradually partially thrown in the fountain. A coin minted in the late 4th century was found in the well in the northwest corner of the temple attest that the well was still intact up until that time.

Römischer Temperlbezirk Tawern
54456 Tawern
GOOGLE MAPS
Distance from Spangdahlem 65 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

Villa Otrang is located five kilometres north of Bitburg, on the ancient Roman Legion Route that went from the Imperial Residential City of Trier, all the way to Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, now known as Köln. It is the best preserved Roman Country Seats north of the Alps. Villa Rustica was built in various stages between the second and the fourth centuries. At that point in time, it was an impressively large homestead and contained 66 rooms. Aside from baths, great halls and complex hypocausts, an underground warm air heating system, it also had a farmstead with exceptional dimensions. Parts of the heating systems and baths are still in good condition and are visible for visitors. Unfortunately, due to centuries of decay, only the foundation walls and four mosaic floors, depicting its vast wealth, remind us of the Villa’s glorious past. A small restaurant is on the premises. Coach parking is also available.

Villa Otrang
GOOGLE MAPS
Phone: 06569-807
Opening hours:
April-September daily from 10.00- 13.00 and 14.00-18.00
October, November, March, April, hours are from 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00
December and January closed

This town is located on the East border of the Eifel region on the Lieser River. It is also situated a few kilometres distance from the Mosel River. It is the district seat of the Bernkastel-Wittlich County. In 1991, Wittlich celebrated its 700th anniversary. Every August, Wittlich hosts the ’Säubrennerkirmes‘ – one of the largest folk festivals in the Rhineland-Palatinate. This festival goes back to the town’s legend when Wittlich was surrounded by enemies. It is said that the gatekeeper, not finding the bolt to lock the city gate, out of desperation used a carrot to lock the gate. Along came a hungry pig, ate the carrot, the gates opening, allowing the enemies to enter, burning down the city. On the third weekend of August, the citizens also pay homage to the patron saint of the town, St. Roch. On the market square, the pig roasting on a spit takes place. More than a hundred pigs are roasted this weekend.

Culturally, Wittlich also has much to offer: The Georg-Meistermann Museum for modern art is one of the most popular museums in the region. It houses a significant portion of the estate of the painter and master glass artist George Mann (1911 to 1990), the most famous is that of ’The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse‘ from the Revelation of St. John. Altogether, more than 30 glass windows at seven locations were created and today are better known as the ’Treasures of Wittlich‘ The museum has various exhibits throughout the year. Phone: 06571 14660.

In the cultural and conference centre ‘Synagogue’ a permanent exhibition tells the history of Jewish life in Wittlich. The exhibit gives visitors an insight about the history of the Jewish community in Wittlich beginning from the 14th Century. The restored synagogue building is one of the prominent landmarks and memorial of Jewish history in Germany. Wittlich also offers good shopping and lots of fun for children at KiLaWi, an indoor playground (Phone: 06571-950782) as Wittlich’s indoor swimming pool, Viteulis designed for people of all ages (Phone: 06571-6088).