Billigheim-Ingenheim: Bruch, history and Purzelmarkt

Billigheim-Ingenheim offers a variety of ways to shape your stay: the Billigheimer Bruch combines open and wet landscapes, while churches, the town gate and the moat preserve traces of the area's history. There are also events, baking activities and opportunities to enjoy some active time. One particularly traditional event is the Billigheimer Purzelmarkt, held on the third weekend in September. The festivities include a parade, horse races, traditional competitions and live music; celebrations take place around the market square and at the festival grounds.

Nature and discovery in the Billigheimer Bruch

The Billigheimer Bruch is a former bog. Wet meadows, fields and pastures lie alongside flowing and still waters, reed beds and swamp woodland. This mix of wet and agricultural land gives the area its distinctive character. Small herds of water buffalo graze in areas managed extensively.

Near the Bruch is a 300-metre-long discovery trail with eight stations. It explains habitats, the area's history and the ecological role of the nature conservation project. Those interested in the landscape can see the same place from different perspectives: its nature, its past and the importance of the conservation project. The Appenhofen observation tower offers a different perspective. It is accessible at all times and provides views across the vineyards of the Southern Wine Route towards the Palatinate Forest Biosphere Reserve.

Churches, the town gate and medieval traces

The choir of St Martin's Church dates from the 14th century and contains Gothic wall paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries. The Bible Garden around the church features trees, shrubs, herbs and grains selected for their thematic significance. Explanatory signs complement the plantings. Historical paintings and a garden with biblical references thus present distinct cultural-history themes side by side.

Appenhofen is also home to older religious buildings: the Chapel of St John the Baptist is a Gothic simultaneum church dating from the 14th or 15th century. Its choir has a rib-vaulted ceiling. The medieval town fortifications can be viewed from outside at any time. The surviving Upper Gate and remnants of the town moat preserve evidence of Billigheim's medieval town walls. The Upper Gate also houses a small wine tavern.

Festivals, baking and other leisure activities

The Purzelmarkt programme includes a parade, horse races, traditional competitions, live music and festivities around the market square and festival grounds. Taking place on the third weekend in September, it has a set place in the annual calendar. Those more interested in crafts and creativity can find bread-making courses and creative events at the Bischoff Mill. The shop sells flour, grains, baking accessories and other baking products.

Other things to do in Billigheim-Ingenheim include a wine trail and a fishing pond. Ingenheim outdoor swimming pool has a 25-metre swimming area, a leisure pool, a paddling pool and a large sunbathing lawn. The activities described therefore range from nature and local history to swimming, wine and baking—different options to weigh up when planning your trip.

Choose your accommodation and type of trip

There is a municipal campsite in the Klingbachtal for tents, caravans and motorhomes. Campers have access to the local outdoor swimming pool. This is a specific accommodation option for travellers with their own camping equipment; check the details of each listing for information about other accommodation. For your planning, it helps to first choose the experiences you want to shape your stay: the Bruch and its landscape, historic buildings, the Purzelmarkt or activities such as the outdoor pool and baking courses. This allows you to tailor your accommodation search to your travel interests without grouping nature, culture and leisure activities into a single type of outing.

More trails in the Southern Wine Route

The wider Southern Wine Route destination offers other distinct destinations for nature and themed trails. The TrifelsErlebnisWeg is 3.6 kilometres long, rated easy and has 18 play and learning stations. The Keschde-Erlebnisweg is a 6.1-kilometre circular route around the Föhrlenberg that is suitable for pushchairs and focuses on the Palatinate chestnut; seasonal conditions may affect access. At Silzer See, the Climate and Nature Discovery Trail offers two circular routes of different lengths exploring forests, biodiversity, drinking water production and water retention. Their different lengths, formats and themes each offer a distinct focus for planning a trip in the Southern Wine Route.

Discover more destinations: Böbingen, Albersweiler, Ramberg, Kapellen-Drusweiler, Böchingen, Burrweiler, Pleisweiler-Oberhofen, Böllenborn.

Go to the main travel overview: Southern Wine Route.