Glowing sunset over the Palatinate Forest on the return ride to Mannheim

Special ride · 12 September 2026

Pre Tour
WM.

From the Rhine into the Palatinate: ferry, forest trails, Wachenheim, Wachtenburg and Wurstmarkt — 88.8 kilometres of contrasts.

Ride story

Special Ride pre Tour WM.

A long Saturday loop from Mannheim to the edge of the Haardt and back. Not a race, but a ride of discovery with plenty of time for the ferry, forest, wine, a castle and the Palatinate way of life.

We started at Backyard Bicycles in Mannheim's Neckarstadt. Through the city and along the Rhine, the route led to the Altrip Rhine ferry. That short crossing immediately turned the loop into a small journey: harbour and power station on one bank, Rhine meadows and quiet paths on the other.

Beyond Altrip, the surface kept changing. Tarmac, forest tracks and gravel took us via Waldsee and Rehhütte to the Rehbach near Iggelheim. There was time for a break by the lake at Oase Waldsee. The restaurant sits in a recreation area with a bathing beach and playground — one of the route's hidden stops.

From the Rehbach to the Wine Route

After the shaded sections, the landscape opened up. Straight farm tracks headed west with the Palatinate Forest in view. The destination was Wachenheim on the German Wine Route: first Schloss Wachenheim, a listed Baroque building dating from around 1730, then up to Wachtenburg Castle.

The castle ruins stand prominently above Wachenheim. The extra climb is short, but after more than 50 kilometres it is certainly noticeable. Old walls, vineyards and a wide view across the Rhine plain wait at the top — the perfect turning point for this ride.

WM stop and the long way home

From Wachenheim, we rolled on to Bad Dürkheim, where the Dürkheim Wurstmarkt was taking place that weekend. A quick Pfalzkind stop was just as much part of the ride as the long break beforehand. In 2026 the traditional festival celebrated its 610th edition — a fitting WM stop for this special ride.

In the evening, the route returned via Maxdorf and the fields of the Vorderpfalz. The recording ended back in Mannheim after sunset. Komoot lists 88.8 kilometres, 265 metres of climbing and 4 hours 36 minutes of riding time. With the ferry, photo stops, castle and Wurstmarkt, it became a full day out.

Bicycles on the Rhine ferry between Mannheim and Altrip — **Kilometre 10 · Altrip Rhine ferry**Crossing the Rhine with the bikes — the day's first little travel moment.

Oase restaurant and beer garden in the Waldsee recreation area — **Kilometre 16 · Break at the Oase**The restaurant sits in the recreation area right by the lake. A bathing beach and playground make this secluded spot a good stop on the way to Rehhütte. Information about Oase Waldsee →
Photo: Gunter Bohrer / Wochenblatt Reporter

Historic building by the water at Rehhütte — **Kilometre 23 · Rehhütte**Old walls, a watercourse and plenty of green on the way to Iggelheim.

Gravel bike on a wooden bridge across the Rehbach near Iggelheim — **Kilometre 35 · Rehbach**The bike on the wooden bridge, with the Rehbach flowing through the forest below.

Rehbach beneath a dense canopy near Iggelheim — **Woodland section at the Rehbach**Calm water and dense riverside woodland just before the landscape opens into the Vorderpfalz.

Straight gravel track through the Vorderpfalz with the Palatinate Forest ahead — **Kilometre 36 · Towards the Haardt**Open fields, coarse gravel and the Palatinate Forest already on the horizon.

At the edge of the Haardt

Two castles, one view.

Schloss Wachenheim stands in the centre of town. Wachtenburg Castle sits above it among the vines. The stops are close together, yet could hardly feel more different.

Gateway to Schloss Wachenheim — **Kilometre 55 · Schloss Wachenheim**The imposing gateway opens onto the historic courtyard.

Wachtenburg Castle ruins above the vineyards — **Kilometre 55 · Wachtenburg Castle**One final short climb to the ruins and a view across the Rhine plain.

Pfalzkind deckchairs at the Dürkheim Wurstmarkt — **Kilometre 60 · Bad Dürkheim**“Babbel net unn hock dich druff” — a break with genuine Palatinate character at the Wurstmarkt.

Backyard Bicycles Pre City Ride graphic — **Pre Tour WM**The graphic for the special ride: set off together, explore and return with a story to tell.

Red sunset glowing over the Palatinate Forest — **Kilometre 68 · The return**The Palatinate Forest in the last light — with a little over 20 kilometres still to go to Mannheim.

88.8 kilometres · Original recording

The route on Komoot.

The complete recording includes the route, elevation profile and all ride data. Open the map directly or save it in Komoot.

Open the ride on Komoot →