In Bodenheim, Renaissance half-timbered architecture and historic courtyards meet a wine trail through the vineyards. You can focus your trip planning in different ways: on the architectural history of the town centre, one of two historic walking routes, or a route offering insights into winegrowing.
Renaissance and Local History
The Historic Town Hall was built in 1608 as an elaborately carved half-timbered building in the Renaissance style. Its distinctive features include a carved oriel window and decorative Renaissance motifs; the council chamber has stucco decoration. The Breidenbacher Hof adds to this picture with its two-storey Dolleskeller, whose columns and ribbed vaults have been preserved. The Knebelscher Hof is also part of the town’s older architectural history: it was built in 1606 as a manor farm and is considered Bodenheim’s oldest building.
The local history museum is housed in an outbuilding of the manor house built in 1774 for Baron von Breidenbach-Büresheim. Its permanent exhibition covers local history, and special exhibitions are prepared each year. The collection includes prehistoric and medieval ceramics, historic farming objects and fragments of Roman roof tiles. In this way, the architecture and collection each offer a different path through the town’s history.
Historic Walking Routes
For a shorter walk through local history, try the 1.6-kilometre historic walking route. It passes the 1608 Town Hall, the Breidenbacher Hof and the former courtyard of the Metternich estate. The longer route, covering 4.3 kilometres, takes in historic courtyards, Renaissance half-timbered buildings and churches. The two route lengths give you a practical guide when planning how far to walk.
A tourist route passes through the historic town centre and also points out the RheinTerrassenWeg, the historic walking routes, the wine trail and cycling routes. You can make the town-centre walk a focus in its own right or include it in your plans alongside a tour through the vineyards.
Wine Trail and Stiftswingert
The 2.7-kilometre wine trail is a circular route through the vineyards. It starts and ends at Stiftswingert, by the statue of Saint Alban. At Stiftswingert, the vineyard’s massive perimeter walls and corner towers stand out; another statue of Saint Alban stands nearby at the end of the trail. Along the way, you can enjoy views over Bodenheim and the Rhine-Main region.
Along the trail, grape-variety signs and information panels explain winegrowing and Bodenheim’s history. Fourteen wines are also presented at the places where they are grown. Tastings are available on site during the seasonal wine-tasting event; if you plan to include this in your tour, check the event dates before your trip. The circular route thus brings together scenery, winegrowing and local history, without requiring you to explore each subject separately.
Cycling Routes and the Regional Setting
The Rhine Cycle Route and the Amiche Cycle Route pass directly by Bodenheim. The Amiche Cycle Route follows the former Amiche and Valentinchen railway lines from Bodenheim through the foothills of the Rheinhessen hills. The route profile dated November 20, 2019, rates the route as easy and notes several short climbs. You can rent bicycles, mountain bikes and pedelecs directly at Bodenheim station; check availability before you travel.
The wider region can also help you choose a stage: in the broader Mainz-Bingen travel destination, the approximately 75-kilometre Rheinterrassenweg runs from Worms to Mainz. Bodenheim and Oppenheim are stage destinations in the valley, making it easier to access the Rhine Terrace. Along the Rheinterrassenweg, twelve railway stations with regular services make it possible to hike from station to station. Check current timetables if you want to combine a stage with a train journey.
Discover more destinations: Oberheimbach, Grolsheim, Nieder-Olm, Undenheim, Engelstadt, Uelversheim, Heidesheim am Rhein, Essenheim.
Back to the main travel overview: Mainz-Bingen.
