Summary of Attractions in Kaiserslautern
Located in southwest Germany, Kaiserslautern is a picturesque city surrounded by the lush hills of the Palatinate Forest. This exquisite landscape has a history that dates back to the royal estate times of Charlemagne, with the term “Kaiser” in the city’s name referring to the Holy Roman Emperors Frederick I (Barbarossa) and Rudolf I, who resided here in the 12th and 13th centuries.
By the year 2000, Kaiserslautern hosted its inaugural Rhineland-Palatinate garden show, creating an enchanting themed park featuring dinosaurs and an authentic Japanese garden. For art enthusiasts, the Pfalzgalerie boasts an impressive collection of renowned Impressionist, Expressionist, and contemporary German artworks.
Let us delve into the top attractions in Kaiserslautern:
1. Gartenschau
In 2000, Kaiserslautern inaugurated the first state garden show of Rhineland-Palatinate (Landesgartenschau), transforming a former slaughterhouse and spinning mill into this remarkable park.
Incorporating the Kaiserberg hill, the grounds are adorned with life-sized dinosaur models, catering to children fascinated by these prehistoric creatures. Visitors can also enjoy an adventure golf course, a cactus garden, vibrant flowerbeds, and a willow branch church situated on Kaiserberg.
Since 2015, the buildings of the old spinning mill have hosted a Lego exhibition.
2. Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern
Centrally located near the town hall, the Pfalzgalerie is a museum dedicated to art from the 1800s to the 2000s.
Founded in the 1870s by Palatine president Paul von Braun, the permanent exhibition provides an extensive overview of 200 years of German art, encompassing styles from Neoclassicism and Romanticism to Impressionism and Expressionism. Visitors can explore works by notable artists such as Anselm Feuerbach, Carl Spitzweg, Lovis Corinth, Max Liebermann, Kirchner, Heckel, and Otto Dix, alongside decorative arts spanning from the 1400s to the present.
3. Japanischer Garten
Also completed for the Landesgartenschau in 2000, this beautiful Japanese garden is among the largest in Europe. In the late 1990s, the city aimed to create an authentic representation of Japanese culture, consulting with its sister city, Bunkyō in Tokyo, for insights.
This garden not only serves as a serene retreat but also hosts Japanese festivals such as Hanami and Tanabata, tea ceremonies, and literary readings. Features include moss gardens, ponds, waterfalls, and meticulously designed rock gardens.
4. Stiftskirche
Situated on the historical marketplace of Kaiserslautern, this is the oldest Gothic hall church located between the Rhine and Saar rivers. Its sandstone architecture demonstrates its origins linked to a monastery founded in the 12th century. The current structure began construction in the mid-13th century, with the elongated choir being the earliest part completed.
A notable feature added in 2009 is a carillon equipped with 47 bells, which strikes seven times daily.
5. Burg Hohenecken
This remnant of the Hohenstaufen era castle is prominently located on a rocky spur, 365 meters above sea level on Schlossberg hill, southwest of Kaiserslautern. The fortress was destroyed by the French army in 1689 during the Nine Years’ War, yet remnants of medieval architecture have been preserved, dating back to the early 1200s.
6. Humberg Tower
Established at the turn of the 20th century by local entrepreneurs, this Wilhelmine observation tower stands on Humberg hill southeast of the city. The sandstone structure features medieval elements, providing expansive views over the city from its observation platform, which is accessible via a spiral staircase of 130 steps.
7. Kaiserbrunnen
Located at Mainzer Tor in the eastern part of the city center, the Kaiserbrunnen is a bronze and sandstone sculptural fountain created in 1987. Its whimsical design provides an insight into Kaiserslautern’s history while containing numerous symbols representing the city.
Historical elements such as a Napoleon hat and busts of Emperors Frederick I and Rudolf I are included, alongside contemporary references like a Pfaff sewing machine and an Opel engine. Additionally, the fountain features local wildlife including a pike, the heraldic animal of Kaiserslautern, and a mouse, representing its creator, Gernot Rumpf.
8. Theodor-Zink-Museum
A beautifully restored 19th-century house with a courtyard, this museum has served as Kaiserslautern’s city museum since 1978. Established in 1934, it has a diverse collection showcasing the city’s history through artifacts from various eras.
The museum exhibits Neolithic pottery fragments, Bronze Age jewelry, Carolingian capitals from the predecessor of Stiftskirche, and Early Modern Age city models. Additionally, it features industrial-age products from local factories, including sewing machines, bicycles, and fine porcelain.
9. Volkspark
Originating from the Palatinate Craft Show of 1925, the Volkspark remains a cherished green space within the city. Following the bombing of the exhibition halls during the war, the area was redeveloped in 1959 to include lawns, sports facilities, botanical flowerbeds, and a duck pond.
In 2001, a bandstand was added, providing a venue for summer concerts, including the regular Sunday Frühschoppenkonzert, and a medieval-themed market takes place biennially in August.
10. 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Two decades ago, Kaiserslautern’s football club was among the most prominent in Germany, having secured the Bundesliga title twice, in 1991 and 1998, with the latter victory following a promotion from the 2. Bundesliga the previous season.
Since 2012, however, Die Roten Teufel (The Red Devils) have consistently remained in the second division of German football, though they still play in the Fritz-Walter-Stadion, which accommodates 50,000 spectators and hosted five matches during the 2006 World Cup.
If you seek excitement, securing tickets on match days is relatively easy, as the stadium is often less than full. Additionally, stadium tours are available on most weekends, showcasing the VIP area, changing rooms, dugouts, and press conference facilities.
11. St.-Martins-Platz
This charming square in the old town is surrounded by 18th and 19th-century architecture, having survived the destruction of the Second World War with minor damage.
Visitors can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere at St.-Martins-Platz, highlighted by a bar terrace nestled among three large chestnut trees and the gentle sounds of the Fontainebrunnen fountain.
The multi-tiered fountain, a creation of a 20th-century sculptor, features swans, gargoyles, and is topped with a golden putto, enriching the historical ambiance of the square which once served as a grain storage area in medieval times, before later hosting the now-defunct Hotel Zum Donnersberg.
12. Martinskirche
Once part of a Franciscan monastery, this Catholic parish church exemplifies simple lines and minimal decoration characteristic of its order. It is situated in a historic district adjacent to the remnants of the medieval defensive wall, which still stand today.
Notably, the church lacks a prominent tower, instead adorned with a small Baroque steeple atop its hipped roof. Visitors will appreciate the interior’s intricate stuccowork, a 1516 sandstone baptismal font, ribbed vaulting, and elegant ogival windows in the choir area.
The old rectory garden, located behind the church, houses historic gravestones from various cemeteries around Kaiserslautern.
13. Mikveh Jewish Ritual Bath
An intriguing piece of Jewish heritage was discovered during excavations on Am Altenhof in 1995, revealing a mikveh bath that dates back to the 1300s. This important site was uncovered unexpectedly during construction, representing a specific historical period before the expulsion of the Jewish population from Kaiserslautern in 1398.
The mikveh, carved into the bedrock and measuring 2.5 by 2.5 meters, is now housed within a small pavilion. Tours can be arranged through the tourist office for those interested in visiting this significant cultural site.
14. Freibad Waschmühle
Kaiserslautern’s swimming club built this outdoor pool in 1908 on the former site of an old washing mill. Located in a narrow valley, the pool spans 7,400 square meters and reaches a length of 165.3 meters, featuring changing rooms designed in the Art Nouveau style.
Sourced from local wells, the pool’s water temperature varies from a refreshing 19 °C in the cooler months to a warm 26 °C during the summer months of July and August, making it a favored spot for families seeking leisure amidst nature.
15. Wildpark Betzenberg
Established in 1970, Wildpark Betzenberg is located on a hill east of the city and houses several species of wildlife that are either extinct or no longer native to the region. This park encompasses 25 hectares of shaded grounds featuring 125-year-old oaks, beeches, and conifers, where visitors can observe aurochs, mouflons, lynxes, wild boars, owls, and red deer.
Moreover, the Wildpark participates in a conservation program aimed at protecting Europe’s endangered bison population.
