Sometimes we do not realise what treasures we have in our region. Maybe you have never before heard about the destination we will take you to today...
Annweiler am Trifels and Haunestein, located in the Palatinate region, are lesser known holiday destinations for those coming from outside Germany, but they offer a great variety of experiences for family and children. Here are the top suggestions of what you can enjoy with the children in the area:
Located right near Hauenstein, this massive playground features water play areas, climbing structures, and a giant mushroom-shaped rock.
Tucked into the Palatinate Forest right beneath the legendary Teufelstisch (Devil's Table) sandstone rock formation, this free family adventure park is a perfect stop for anyone exploring the region. It's open daily from 10am to 6pm during the season, roughly March/April to October, and features a giant slide, a water playground, a labyrinth, a feel-and-smell trail, and a mini-golf course, among other attractions.
The park's undisputed highlight is its 50-metre giant slide alongside a fascinating "sea of rocks" (Felsenmeer). Kids can explore a barefoot path made of different materials, "smell" and "touch" various plants and herbs, and be surprised by light-and-shadow effects in a cave passage – plus a zip line, mini-golf, and a picnic spot.
Don't skip the short walk up to the Teufelstisch rock itself – it's about 1km from the park, roughly a 20-minute hike, and makes for an unforgettable photo against the Palatinate Forest backdrop.
See more information here: Erlebnispark Teufelstisch - Urlaubsregion Hauenstein
The Wasgaufreibad in nearby Hauenstein is the perfect place to cool off after a day of hiking in the Palatinate Forest. Nestled amid impressive rock formations in the heart of the Pfälzerwald, this natural outdoor pool sits within spacious sunbathing lawns and offers a distinctive swimming experience in spring-fresh, ecologically heated natural water.
The centerpiece is a 50-metre stainless steel pool with a diving board, complemented by a separate non-swimmer pool with a swinging bay, splash showers, and massage jets. Thrill-seekers can test their nerve on the 1- and 3-metre diving boards, while families will love the 45-metre water slide and the two-level children's paddling pool, shaded by a sun sail.
There's also a beach volleyball court and playground for those wanting to stay active between swims. The main pool is comfortably accessible via a permanent entry aid for people with walking disabilities and wheelchair users. When hunger strikes, a kiosk on site serves food and drinks, making it easy to turn a quick dip into a full day out.
The pool is open seasonally from mid-May through to mid-September.
See more information here: Wasgaufreibad - Herrliche Lage mit Felspanorama
Tucked into the forest just outside Hauenstein on the way towards the Queichtal valley, the Paddelweiher is an idyllic pond with a nearly flat circular walking path around it, plus boat rental and fishing on offer in beautiful surroundings. Right beside it sits a cozy woodland restaurant with a large beer garden overlooking the water, and a playground that makes this a favourite family stop in the region.
Kids can go pedal-boating on the pond before or after lunch, and a walk around the water is easily doable on foot too. The playground next to the hut is another big draw – kids swing, climb, and run around while parents relax with a glass of Palatinate wine nearby. The venue is senior-friendly with a barrier-free dining room and ground-floor restrooms, dogs are welcome, and there's ample parking.
It's a lovely, laid-back stop – paddle, play, and eat, all in one shaded spot in the Palatinate Forest.
📍 Address: Dahnerstraße, 76846 Hauenstein, Germany
See here for more information: Spielplatz
Housed in a former shoe factory from the Bauhaus era, built in 1929, this one-of-a-kind museum tells the 250-year story of shoemaking in the Palatinate – spread across roughly 2,500 square metres of exhibition space on four floors. It traces the beginnings of the local shoe industry back to around 1800, when discharged soldiers in nearby Pirmasens started making shoes to earn a living, and walks visitors through the region's transformation into a shoemaking powerhouse.
The museum's real showstopper is the Ernst-Tillmann Collection – with more than 3,500 pairs of shoes spanning two millennia and every continent, it's considered the largest private shoe collection in Europe. There's also a striking Salamander Collection of over 4,000 pairs donated in 2018, and since 2022 the museum has displayed the world's largest shoe – a Guinness World Record holder measuring 7.14 metres long and weighing around 1,500kg.
It's a quirky, surprisingly moving stop that mixes industrial history with local social history.
See more information here: Home – Museum Hauenstein
Perched on a 500-metre-high rocky peak above the small town of Annweiler, Trifels is one of the most dramatic castles in the Palatinate – and one of the most historically significant. Between 1088 and 1330, it served as one of the most important centres of power under the Hohenstaufen and Salian dynasties, and the imperial crown, sceptre, and orb were once kept safe within its walls (faithful replicas are now on display in the castle's treasure chamber).
The castle's most famous chapter of intrigue: its most notorious prisoner was England's King Richard the Lionheart, who was only released after the Hohenstaufen Emperor Henry VI collected a massive ransom for him. Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa was a frequent visitor too, staying at Trifels in 1155, 1184, and 1186, cementing its status as one of the empire's most prestigious strongholds.
Today's castle is reachable via the Schlossäcker car park or on foot along several scenic hiking trails, including the Annweilerer Burgenweg and the Pfälzer Weinsteig – just note it's about a 25-minute walk uphill from the car park to the castle itself. Well worth the climb for the views alone.
For families and kids that love hiking.
See more information here: Trifels Castle – Burgenlandschaft Pfalz
Nestled in the valley of the river Queich in the heart of the Palatinate Forest, Annweiler am Trifels is a romantic little town that feels like a step back in time. Founded in the Middle Ages, it's the second oldest town in the Palatinate after Speyer, and was established by the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick II, its fortunes always closely tied to the fate of Trifels Castle towering above it.
A stroll through the old town rewards you with picturesque half-timbered houses, the town church, the town hall, and an inviting town hall square lined with restaurants. One of the loveliest walks follows the banks of the Queich River through the former tanners' quarter – Huguenot settlers brought the tanning trade to Annweiler in the 16th century, and the historic tanners' houses along the river still tell that story today. Don't miss the atmospheric Schipka Pass, the narrow medieval entrance to the old town, so tight that cart loads once had to be transferred onto wheelbarrows to pass through.
See more information here: Stadt – Stadt Annweiler am Trifels
We hope you enjoyed reading, now it's time to explore!
And as always enjoy and Let'z TravelmatKanner
