Holiday in Bergstraße

What makes Bergstraße special as a destination?

The Bergstraße is Germany's mildest region and a true garden of Eden between Darmstadt and Heidelberg – a narrow strip on the western edge of the Odenwald, where almond trees, figs, and even kiwis thrive, and spring arrives weeks earlier than elsewhere in Germany. The Romans called this section 'strata montana' and planted the first vines here, which still cover the slopes today. The Bergstraße is not a large, well-known holiday region – it is a top secret tip. The almond blossom in March transforms the Bergstraße into a sea of pink blossoms reminiscent of Japan. Along the historic Roman road, dreamy wine villages stretch like pearls on a string: Bensheim with its charming old town, Heppenheim with its medieval marketplace and the Starkenburg panorama, Zwingenberg as the oldest town on the Bergstraße, and Weinheim with its exotic gardens. The Felsenmeer in the Odenwald is a geological sensation: a river of granite blocks cascades down the mountainside for hundreds of meters – a huge natural climbing playground that delights both children and adults. The Romans already quarried stones here, and their remnants still lie among the rocks. Schloss Auerbach, towering high above Bensheim, offers the perfect panoramic view over the Rhine plain to the Pfälzer mountains. The Starkenburg above Heppenheim and the numerous smaller castles give the Bergstraße an almost Tuscan charm. The Electoral Palace in Weinheim with its palace garden and exotic forest is a botanical gem. The Bergstraße is ideally located in terms of transport: nestled between Frankfurt, Mannheim, and Heidelberg, with an ICE stop in Bensheim, it can be reached from the Rhine-Main area in 30 minutes. A perfect destination for short vacations, wine weekends, and anyone who wants to discover Mediterranean Germany.