Sankt Martin: Experience Nature, Wine and Culture

Sankt Martin brings together nature, wine country and history on a variety of scales. At Sandwiesenweiher, landscape conservation with Heck cattle sits alongside a short sensory trail; above the town, vineyards and educational trails offer views towards the Rhine plain. There are also quiet places, monuments and a castle, where it is important to distinguish between the inaccessible interior and the tavern in the forecourt. You can shape your stay around nature, outdoor activities or culture.

Landscape and trails on different scales

Near Sandwiesenweiher, the St. Martin grazing project supports landscape conservation: ten Heck cattle graze across around 44 hectares. The family-friendly Auerochsenweg is 4.6 kilometres long and loops around the Heck cattle enclosure. For a much shorter outing, the approximately 500-metre barefoot trail at Sandwiesenweiher has eleven sensory stations. The trail lengths make the difference between a longer loop and a short route clear, without specifying a walking time.

The Sandwiesen recreation area in the valley features a small lake and benches. Alongside the trails, quiet moments by the water are also part of the nature experience. Those who enjoy walking can also include a section of the Palatinate Wine Trail, which leads from Neustadt an der Weinstraße to Sankt Martin.

Wine views and cycling options

The paved Wine and Geology Educational Trail runs for about 1.5 kilometres through vineyards above Sankt Martin. From here, there are views of the Rhine plain and the town. Information boards introduce 18 grape varieties and pair each one with a stone or mineral. The trail thus combines viticulture and geology along the same route—a different focus from the sensory stations on the barefoot trail or the Heck cattle on the Auerochsenweg.

Cyclists also have various options, including circular routes, themed routes and the German Wine Route Cycle Path. E-bike hire and charging stations are available nearby. Sankt Martin offers hiking and cycling alongside numerous restaurants, inns and wineries. The themes you would like to focus on during your stay can help guide your planning and your search for accommodation.

Culture, tranquillity and history

The Bible Garden, a collection of biblical plants grown outdoors, lies around the church. The Lourdes Grotto was created around 1912 as a Marian grotto, modelled on the grotto in Lourdes, France. It is a place for quiet reflection and devotion in the forest, about ten minutes from Kropsburg. In the Dichterhain, a monument erected in 1929 commemorates three Palatinate poets; their reliefs are carved into the rock.

Kropsburg was built around 1200 and became the seat of the Knights of Dalberg in 1441. The castle interior is not open to visitors, but the castle tavern in the forecourt is accessible. This distinction is useful when planning your visit. The NATO bunker in Sankt Martin also tells a story of more recent history: construction took place between 1964 and 1972, and the complex has around 3,000 square metres of circulation space. Seasonal restrictions apply to protect bats. Check the current visiting arrangements before considering a tour.

Beyond the individual sites, the VG Maikammer Art Trail connects Maikammer, Kirrweiler and Sankt Martin through sculptures, galleries, studios and temporary outdoor exhibitions. This complements the historic monuments with contemporary art. Together with the wine trail, cycling options and nature paths, Sankt Martin offers several distinct themes to help you shape your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wernersberg, Barbelroth, Heuchelheim-Klingen, Rhodt Unter Rietburg, Steinfeld, Roschbach, Hainfeld, Edenkoben.

Go to the overview of the region: Southern Wine Route.