Bad Dürkheim (district)

Infobox German district noregbez
name=Bad Dürkheim
state=Rhineland-Palatinate
former regierungsbezirk=Rheinhessen-Pfalz
capital=Bad Dürkheim
area=595
population=135,000
population_as_of=2000
density=227
carsign=DÜW
url= [http://www.kreis-bad-duerkheim.de kreis-bad-duerkheim.de]

Bad Dürkheim is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by (from the west and clockwise) the districts of Kaiserslautern, Donnersbergkreis and Alzey-Worms, the city of Worms, the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis, the city of Neustadt/Weinstraße, the districts of Südliche Weinstraße, the city of Landau (the Taubensuhl/Fassendeich forest part of the city), the district Südwestpfalz, and the city of Kaiserslautern.

History

The eastern rim of the Palatinate forest has been densely populated since the Middle Ages. Several medieval castles show the significance of the region during the early Holy Roman Empire.

The district was established in 1969 by combining portions of the former districts of Neustadt and Frankenthal.

Geography

The district is located on the eastern rim of the Palatinate forest ("Pfälzer Wald"), called the Haardt. The Deutsche Weinstraße ("German Wine Road"), a scenic road along the best vineyards of the Palatinate wine region, runs through the district from north to south. The district is sometimes called "the heart of the Palatinate".

The best wine-growing area is the "Mittelhaardt" ("Middle Haardt"), where the Riesling wine is cultivated, which is considered to be one of the best German wines. It is known for the great wine which they celebrate every year.

Coat of arms

External links

* [http://www.kreis-bad-duerkheim.de/ Official website] (German)