Fossils and many centuries of history
At the Alzey City Museum, two very different timescales lie side by side. The prehistory and early history exhibition traces the cultural and historical development of central Rheinhessen from the Neolithic through the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman period to the Merovingian period—a total of more than 6,000 years. By contrast, the geology and palaeontology exhibition focuses on the Mainz Basin: minerals, especially fossils, reveal how it developed over millions of years. The exhibits thus take you from human life in earlier eras back through the much longer history of the Earth.
A walking tour of the town also offers different ways to explore Alzey’s history. Alzey Castle can be explored either with trained town guides or on your own. The Geistermühle offers a different kind of historical discovery: this historic mill complex features half-timbering and a fully preserved watermill, and guided tours of the mill are available. The sites represent different themes—town history in one case, mill technology and a historic farmstead in the other.
Vineyard landscapes and distinctive buildings
Between Gau-Odernheim and Bechtolsheim, the 246-metre-high Petersberg rises above the landscape. Its vineyards and far-reaching views across the Wonnegau and the rolling hills make it a striking landmark. In and around Flonheim, the white trulli tell a different story about the connection between viticulture and the built landscape: these small vineyard buildings were constructed by itinerant workers from Lombardy. The Jewish cemetery in Flonheim, meanwhile, contains around 60 gravestones arranged in rows, most of them made of Flonheim sandstone.
Those wishing to explore the landscape on foot will find a variety of options. The Alzey Art & Culture Hiking Trail runs through the vineyards and features 20 works of art and 22 vineyard huts. One specific destination on the Hiwweltour Aulheimer Tal is the trullo on Adelberg in Flonheim: it can be reached on foot via the trail, and tables and benches are located right next to the trullo. Here, a named landmark and a route through the landscape come together, while the Art & Culture Hiking Trail focuses on art and vineyard huts.
Cycling routes through varied landscapes
The cycling routes described here also differ in what they offer. The Selztal Cycle Route follows the Selz through the rolling hills of Rheinhessen. The Mills Cycle Route connects historic mills and passes through picturesque wine villages. On the Hiwwel Route, hills and recurring views shape the ride; the Rheinterrassen Route passes through wine villages and along vineyard slopes. The Zellertal Cycle Route branches off into the Zellertal. These descriptions can help you choose a route based on its landscape and theme, without suggesting that the routes form a single circular tour.
Cycling services in Alzey-Worms include e-bike rental and charging, as well as facilities for inflating tyres and carrying out simple repairs. Specific locations are not named, so check before setting off where the service you need is available. Conditions and signage on the cycling routes may also change, so it is advisable to check the latest route information before you start.
Wine and planning a suitable trip
At the Klosterhof Vinothek in Flonheim, you can taste wines and enjoy wine by the glass. Coffee, homemade cake and a small snack to accompany your wine are also available. This adds a culinary stop to your cultural and scenic explorations, without reducing the region’s appeal to a single theme.
Alzey-Worms is presented as a destination for day trips and holidays. The activities described range from a town walking tour and hiking trails to several cycling routes with different themes; which ones you include is up to you.
Discover more destinations: Wahlheim, Wörrstadt, Osthofen, Alzey, Westhofen, Wöllstein, Monsheim, Eich, Alsheim, Framersheim, Gimbsheim, Gundheim, Wachenheim, Saulheim, Gau-Bickelheim, Hamm am Rhein, Wallertheim.
For the regional travel overview: Rhineland-Palatinate.
