Experience the "city of contrasts“ on a tour that takes in quaint corners of the old quarter, lively shopping areas, grand gardens and extensive forests. As your starting point, we suggest the Kaiserbrunnen (imperial fountain). It was built in 1987 and has a proud 12-metre diameter. Its figures are a comic representation of the history of the city, with Emperor Barbarossa at the centre.
Not far from here is the Theodor Zink Museum with its fascinating cultural heritage and municipal history collections. It is housed in a former coaching inn built in 1817 and, along with the Wadgasser Hof opposite, is a charming introduction to the historical old quarter. Admission to the museum also includes a visit to the Wadgasser Hof, where you can view the magnificent stucco room.
At the other end of Steinstrasse with its many bars and bistros is the romantic St. Martin's Square, shaded by old chestnut trees. Two buildings from the mid 18th century, the Altes Stadthaus and the Rettigsches Haus, combine with the former Hotel Zum Donnerberg, where Napoleon once ate breakfast, and the cast-iron fountain dating from 1891, to create an idyllic atmosphere.
St Martin's Square is the setting for the 14th century St. Martin's Church, a typical example of a Franciscan church for the mendicant order. Have a look at the graveyard while you're there. It is still surrounded by remnants of the medieval city walls. A brief detour down Rittersbergstrasse leads to the baroque Little Church (built in 1711 – 1717), which is still popular with couples tying the knot today. At the end of Marktstrasse, the collegiate church, one of the foremost late-Gothic hall churches in Germany, completes the Kaiserslautern trio of churches.
Look around you: the fountain in front of the church, the Adler Apothecary and other old buildings form a picturesque ensemble amid the modern city. This is also the location of Kaiserslautern's only remaining half-timbered building: the Spinnrädl. This historical inn is a good place to enjoy some typical Palatinate cuisine to fortify you for the afternoon ahead. Kaiserlautern still has a lot more to offer!
If you're in the mood to shop, cross Schneiderstrasse and enter the city's main shopping zone. Or, if you're ready for a bit more sightseeing, head across Schillerplatz instead. This will bring you to the Fruchthalle concert hall, built on the model of the Palazzo Medici in Florence, and the New Palatinate Theatre. Both lovely to look at on the outside, and even lovelier to experience from the inside, at one of the superb performances. The unmissable, 84-metre-high skyscraper nearby is Kaiserslautern's town hall. The Panorama Lounge on the 21st floor is the perfect place to begin a romantic evening…
Part of the town hall complex, Casimir Hall was built by Count Palatine Johann Casimir who is celebrated in song as the legendary "hunter from the Palatinate“. The hall and the secret underground passageways can be visited as part of a guided tour (times and dates from tourist information). A little further on, information boards and a few remnants of the walls are all that's left of the former Imperial Palace of Emperor Frederick I, also known as Barbarossa. North of Ludwigstrasse is the Pfalzgalerie with its excellent painting and sculpture collections.
If you are visiting between April and October, Kaiserslautern has two "green treats“ to offer. The Japanese Garden on Lauterstrasse is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. The plants, ponds, waterfalls, fish, lanterns and rock gardens create an authentic oriental atmosphere. You can even enjoy a genuine Japanese tea ceremony by prior arrangement. The Regional Garden Show offers beautiful parks, indoor flower shows, themed gardens, exhibitions and a comprehensive programme of cultural events. From the top of Kaiserberg hill on the 22 hectare site you have fantastic views of the city. Tip: Buy a combined ticket if you want to visit both sites.
There's no charge to visit the Palatinate Forest just outside the city. The Hotel-Restaurant Bremerhof (on Bremer Strasse behind the main train station) is an easy-to-find starting point for your day out in the country. From there, it is a half-hour walk to the Humbergturm tower. The tower marks the starting point for a number of well-signposted footpaths, and from the viewing platform you have great views of the wonderful forest landscape and the city of Kaiserslautern.
