Despite its name, the Wurstmarkt in Bad Duerkheim is really about one thing: it is the largest wine festival in the world. For groups from the Palatinate and Saarland the journey there is practically on the doorstep, and first-time visitors are often surprised by how much is packed onto the Wurstmarktplatz and the surrounding old town. Between wine stalls, fairground rides and the famous giant wine barrel, an afternoon trip quickly turns into a full day out.
Why the "sausage market" is actually a wine festival
The name misleads almost every first-time visitor. Originally the Wurstmarkt really was about trade: pilgrims travelled up to the Michaelskapelle chapel above town and brought goods with them, and over the centuries the market grew into a festival built around Palatinate wine. Today dozens of wine stalls and tasting rooms line the Wurstmarktplatz, run by winegrowers from the region, pouring everything from a light Rivaner spritzer to a full-bodied Dornfelder red. Wander through the lanes and you will spot far more wine glasses than sausages, which is exactly what gives the festival its particular charm.
The giant wine barrel and the atmosphere on the square
The festival's namesake landmark is the Duerkheim giant wine barrel, with a capacity of around 1.7 million litres officially the largest wine barrel in the world, now home to a restaurant with a view over the vineyards. Around the Wurstmarktplatz, brass bands, fairground rides and a classic funfair keep the festival mood going, while the tasting rooms offer a calmer spot to sample the local wines. This mix of fairground bustle and wine culture is hard to find anywhere else in Germany in quite the same combination.
Wine and fairground rides: who this trip suits
The Wurstmarkt works well for mixed groups. Anyone who appreciates wine and good food will find plenty to talk about over an afternoon in the tasting rooms, while others would rather spend their time between the roller coaster and the big wheel. Clubs, company outings and groups of friends all get their money's worth here in equal measure. A fixed meeting point still pays off, since the grounds get busy on the peak days and a group can drift apart before anyone notices.
Palatinate specialities alongside the wine
The festival is not entirely without sausage after all. Palatinate cooking is just as present at the Wurstmarkt as the wine: Saumagen (stuffed pork stomach), hearty grilled bratwurst and the regional classic "Weck, Worscht un Woi", bread roll, sausage and wine, are part of the fixed routine for many regulars. Anyone with a sweet tooth will find the usual fairground selection too, from roasted almonds to candy floss. Groups with a bigger appetite do well to line their stomachs before the wine tasting starts, since portions at the stalls are sized for a long afternoon.
Getting there by coach from Kaiserslautern
Bad Duerkheim sits on the German Wine Route and is roughly 30 to 40 minutes from Kaiserslautern via the B37, depending on traffic through the Palatinate Forest. Travelling by charter coach removes the parking search entirely, a real advantage on the busiest days, since Bad Duerkheim fills up fast on Wurstmarkt weekends and parking in the old town is scarce. We coordinate departure and return times individually around the group's plans for the day, and we can pick up at several points across the region on request, including Landstuhl or Saarland.
Insider tip for groups
Anyone hoping to avoid the biggest crowds does best visiting on a weekday or in the early afternoon. A table at one of the well-known tasting rooms is worth booking by phone in advance, and groups planning to register a larger party should not leave it to the last minute, since the benches fill up quickly at weekends. Anyone with time left after the wine tasting should not skip the short walk up to the Michaelskapelle above town, which offers a wide view across the Rhine plain.
Bad Duerkheim beyond the Wurstmarkt
Anyone with time to spare before the ride home will find more to Bad Duerkheim than just the festival grounds. The town is officially a spa resort, and the Kurpark with its adjoining Salinental valley invites a quiet walk between the graduation towers, where evaporating brine creates a mild, salt-rich microclimate. For groups looking to step away from the festival crowds for half an hour, it makes for a pleasant contrast, just a short walk from the Wurstmarktplatz.
Best time to visit
The main Wurstmarkt traditionally takes place in September, spread across two weekends with a public holiday in between, and a smaller spring edition adds to the calendar already in June. The autumn dates bring mild weather and the season's freshly harvested grapes, and weekends are noticeably busier than the weekdays in between. Groups who prefer things a little quieter are better off on those weekdays, with shorter waits at the tasting rooms and more room on the benches.
Plan your trip to the Wurstmarkt
Planning a group trip to the Wurstmarkt in Bad Duerkheim or another destination in the region? Request a free quote, or browse our current excursions for more ideas.