Last summer my mother and stepfather came for a ten day visit. By day eight, I was low on energy and looking for something close by and stress free to entertain them. That’s when some saintly soul recommended Neuleiningen Castle. It had just what I was looking for: a close location, a nice restaurant and wine.

Neuleiningen Castle is a ruin located about 30 minutes northeast of Kaiserslautern. The castle was built in 1243 and is nestled among the village of Neuleiningen, also known as “the Pearl of Palatinate.” This small town offers the ideal location to stroll the streets and take in the amazing views of the castle.

Burgshanke Neuleiningen

Burgshanke Neuleiningen is a very popular restaurant for locals and others. It is particularly famous for its meat dishes, which come in massive portions. The ambiance inside is cozy and romantic with rustic stone walls and candlelight. During nice weather, the outside patio is the perfect place to share a cheese plate and wine while taking in the castle scenery. At Burgshanke we had a true German experience, especially since our waitress did not speak English. However, pointing to items on the menu got us through ordering just fine. The restaurant is open daily from 12-2 p.m. and 6-12 p.m., but it is only open during the evening on Saturdays.

Rudi Rüttger Wine Estate

If you’re looking to make the most of Neuleiningen, stop at the Rudi Rüttger Wine Estate. The estate offers wine tastings daily from 12-5 p.m. in the “Weinlädchen” and on Thursday-Sunday from 4-7 p.m. (March-December) in the wine cellar “Rüttgers Keller.”

How to Get There

Neuleiningen is 30 minutes northeast of Kaiserslautern, 1 hour south of Wiesbaden and just under 2 hours northwest of Stuttgart. Go to DB Bahn for train details.

Author Profile: Kelly is a DOD wife, devoted dog-mom, a mediocre cook, a whiskey connoisseur and an avid traveler who’s exploring the Kaiserslautern area with dog and husband in tow.