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Palatinate Almond Trail during the almond blossom

Pink dream: The Palatinate Almond Trail

Every year between March and early April thousands of almond trees dip the Southwest Palatinate into a pink sea of flowers. The colourful ribbon is followed - from Bad Dürkheim via Edenkoben to the German Wine Gate - by the 77 kilometre long Palatinate Almond Trail.
The route leads through villages adorned with springtime decorations, almond groves and vineyards - past sights such as the Roman villa near Kallstadt, Ludwigshöhe Palace or Madenburg Castle, the largest and oldest castle complex in the Palatinate. On the way there are all sorts of things to taste and buy: Almond liqueurs, syrup and jelly made from almond blossoms, chocolate, even sausage.

Port wine country: The wine route of the Douro

Oldest DPO-wine region. Unesco World Heritage Site and home of port wine: the Alto Douro is a wine region of the highest order. On an area of 26,000 hectares there are vines - many in the enchanting hilly landscape of the Douro River. Its course is followed by the approximately 270-kilometer-long wine route, on which there is much to discover: 
mansions and wine quintas that invite you to stay. Medieval towns such as Vila Real or Lamego, which boast magnificent palaces, azulejos decorated squares and magnificent baroque churches. Or prehistoric rock paintings and settlement remains. There is also a wine museum - and trendy Porto is not far away.

Provisions for the explorers: The Route of the Bacalhau

Since about the 15th century, cod has been salted in Portugal and hung to dry on poles in the Atlantic wind. The fish, preserved in this way, was the perfect provisioning for the months of ship voyages; without it, Vasco da Gama would have never discovered the sea route to India.
Visitors follow the tracks of the cod on the Ruta de Bacalhau in Ilhavo near Aveiro. Starting point is the Maritime Museum, which tells the story of cod fishing. On the way there you will see large fields with the drying equipment. At the port of Ilhavo you can visit a trawler and a fish cannery. Afterwards, restaurants tempt with their bacalhau recipes. There are said to be 365 of them - every day a different one.