Schloss Villa Ludwigshohe

For a cultural break from all that wine tasting, head to this Pompeian-style palace, the former summer residence of King Ludwig I, which overlooks what he described as "the most beautiful square mile of my realm," where the Palatinate vineyards end and the forests begin. The layout and decor of the neoclassical palace—Pompeian-style murals, splendid parquet floors, and Biedermeier and Empire furnishings—are quite a contrast to those of medieval castles elsewhere in the Pfalz. Follow up your visit with a chairlift ride to the vantage point of the Rietburg Castle Ruins, or get your heart racing by following the example of the hardy German tourists who can often be seen hiking uphill between the two sights.