Discover Dannstadt-Schauernheim

Dannstadt-Schauernheim combines two long local histories with nature reserves, fountain motifs and specific cycling tours. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can plan your days around whether you want to focus on historical traces, protected plant and animal life, or a route connected with art and landscape. Together, the two present-day districts have more than 1,200 years of documented history.

Local history and fountain motifs

The earliest written references to the two districts differ: Dannstadt was first mentioned in 769 in a document from Lorsch Abbey. Schauernheim appears in the Lorsch Codex in 770 and 782 in the form Scurheim. The documented local histories therefore date back to the 8th century, with distinct recorded names and dates for Dannstadt and Schauernheim.

The Ochs-&Esel fountain symbolizes the two districts with an ox and a donkey. Two semicircular pools together form a complete water disc. The fountain is a recurring setting for the Winter Fountain Festival, the Dannstadt fair and the Kunst&Genuss market. Check the event dates before your trip if you would like to combine your visit with one of these occasions.

Nature reserves and walks

The Gräberfeld nature reserve is located in the Dannstadt part of the municipality. Rare, endangered plants grow there, including pheasant's eye. The Sandlöcher nature reserve is in the Schauernheim part of the municipality and serves as a refuge for rare animals and plants. The protected areas therefore have different points of focus: rare plants are central to Gräberfeld, while Sandlöcher is described as a refuge for plant and animal life.

The waterways Marl ach and Stechgraben offer another point of reference for leisurely walks. The Palatinate Forest borders the area directly and is associated with nature and hiking opportunities. In addition to the protected areas, waterways and the adjacent natural landscape therefore offer different themes to consider when planning your day.

Cycling tours: art or landscape

The 15-kilometre Art Tour follows paved paths through the Dannstadt-Schauernheim administrative area. It connects artistic highlights in Dannstadt-Schauernheim, Hochdorf-Assenheim and Rödersheim-Gronau. The 14-kilometre ILE Tour also follows paved paths, passing through fields and vineyards and offering views of the Haardt as well as a rest area at the Fußgönheimer Weiher. It also passes through Dannstadt-Schauernheim and neighbouring places.

The routes differ by more than just a kilometre: the Art Tour clearly focuses on art, while the ILE Tour is described in terms of fields, vineyards, views of the Haardt and the rest area by the pond. Comparing the routes by theme gives you more specific guidance than simply looking at their lengths.

An official cycling map is available to help you plan further. It covers cycling routes and paved paths in the area and shows how they connect to the wider regional cycling network. Information about art, culture, nature, restaurants and farm shops complements the map. If you want to compare the themes of a cycling tour with other regional interests, you will find several useful points of connection there.

The Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis as a regional setting

The Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis has numerous cycling routes through fields and floodplains. The Kraut-und-Rüben cycle route passes through green fields and villages and runs along the Rhine. The Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis is known as “Germany’s vegetable garden”; its inns and restaurants serve fresh seasonal vegetables. These cycling and food-related highlights refer to the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis as a whole and add an explicitly regional perspective to Dannstadt-Schauernheim.

Discover more destinations: Waldsee, Böhl-Iggelheim, Heßheim, Otterstadt, Limburgerhof, Hanhofen, Bobenheim-Roxheim, Lambsheim

Return to the regional travel overview: Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis.