Bad Durkheim

Bad Durkheim is considered to be one of the nost important cities on the Weinstrasse. It is particularly conspicuous for the world's largest wine barrel. So we parked at the wine barrel, had coffee in it and even went to the loo in it! It is a restaurant.

This statue of the winemaker bearing his grape harvest basket in front of the church was created in 1936 by the Kaiserslautern-based sculptor Adolph Bernd. It symbolises the wine-growing town of Bad Durkheim.

After a quick visit to the Tourist Office for information, we set off on our tour of the town. The walking tour started at St. Ludwig's Church. Of course Jim's nose brought us the long way to it thus turning me into a huge drip! I was glad of the cool inside when we got there!

Right beside St. Ludwig's is Kurpark, the upper spa gardens and the spa hotel. Bathtub facilities in hotels cemented Bad Durkheim's reputation as a spa town, earning it the official title on "Solbad" (Saltwater Spa) in 1847. Dr. Bunsen, he of the Bunsen burner, discovered two new elements in the Durkheim water - caesium and rubidium) in 1861 and used the water in his further development of the science of spectral analysis.

In the upper spa gardens there is the Ostertag fountain commemorating Valentin Ostertag who bequeathed a substantial foundation to the city early in the 16th century.

"Ginkgo Leaves" sculpture. Both these sculptures in the gardens.

I agree with you - when will it ever cloud over!

This is the Wurstmarktbrunnen (Sausage Market Fountain), another fantastic fountain. Designed by Walter Graser in 1986, it depicts the past and present of the world's largest wine festival - the Durkheimer Wurstmarkt - which lasts for around 9 days over the second and third weekends in September. I'm glad it wasn't on today because I wouldn't have been able to see the detail of all it depicts.

I love this one of the dogs with the sausages!

At the entrance to the pedestrianised area of the city is this sandstone sculpture  "Der Wachter an der Mauer" (The Watchnan on the Wall". The pavement is inlaid with sandstone depicting the course followed by the city walls from the 14th century.

In the Stadtplatz is a sculpture depicting a phoenix symbolising the revival of Bad Durkheim after the terrible damage of the Second World War. It is by Walter Perron.

My knitting ladies would get lots to do in Bad Durkheim!

This sculpture is called "Die Wolke"  (The Cloud" - but there were no other clouds to be seen and I was about to expire!) The steps lead to the Protestant Schlosskirche.

From here we went into Schlossplatz where there were two fountains - described in the gide feaflet as "remarkabe". What was remarkable about them today was the paucity of water!

We found ourselves back at the Spa Gardens with its hotel. I was so thirsty I could go no farther. 400ml of sparkling water was 4 euro so 2 for me and one for Jim - 12 euro!

Highlight of the day like yesterday - the fountain!

We dripped our way home and are still dripping!