The Haus der Deutschen Weinstraße ("''House of the German Wine Route''") has since 1995 marked the northern end of the German Wine Route at Bockenheim. In this respect it is a belated balancing feature for the

German Wine Gate The German Wine Gate (''Deutsches Weintor'') has celebrated the local wine industry and marked the southern end of the German Wine Route in Schweigen-Rechtenbach since 1936. A corresponding marker at the northern end of the German Wine Route at B ...

, 85 kilometers (53 miles) to the south which has marked the southern end of the German Wine Route at Schweigen since 1936. Apart from its unusual architecture and its position at the end of the German Wine Route, its most obvious feature is a large restaurant, much of which is built out over the road that previously divided Großbockenheim from Kleinbockenheim.

Geography

The Haus der Deutschen Weinstraße was built between and , two municipalities which were administratively independent until 1956 when they were officially merged as part of a local government boundary reform. The eastern wing of the building is in effect a bridge over (Local Road 271). The Haus der Deutschen Weinstraße is positioned very close to several social and cultural amenities including the Bockenheim show ground, a sports ground and a community centre.

The Building

The building's architecture incorporates conscious echoes of a Roman castra (fortification). The visible parts of it are predominantly of timber construction, and the supporting

entablature An entablature (; nativization of Italian , from "in" and "table") is the superstructure of moldings and bands which lies horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and ...

is partially exposed. In addition to a 120 seat restaurant, the building has several meeting rooms available. A showpiece is the ''Turmzimmer'' ("Tower Room") at the top which offers views over the local vineyards and towards the Haardt Mountains beyond. The restaurant opens on to a terrace which is set by the side of a lake which has been created on the site of a pond/wetland area..

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haus der Deutschen Weinstrasse Buildings and structures in Bad Dürkheim (district) Wine regions of Germany 1995 establishments in Germany Tourist attractions in Rhineland-Palatinate Anterior Palatinate