Centre of the Southern Palatine Region
The independent city of Landau is located in Palatinate and has 43,300 inhabitants. Being a formerly fortress town it is the centre of the Southern Wine Route in the south of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Today being a university town, Landau obtained city rights in 1274. Located between the Rhine and Pfälzer woods, Landau with its eight parts of town, is one of the biggest wine-growing municipalities in Germany.
But Landau is not only a city for students. An enchanted mixture of lovely design and rural charm makes the city centre a great place for shopping. The range of culinary highlights varies from regional delights to international kitchen, from rural wine bars to pubs and cafes.
Modern and old times are uniquely combined in the townscape. Wide ring roads and imposing old town houses go along with modern style apartment houses like for example the recently constructed boulevard Ostbahn Street that faces on one side the city park and on the other the creek Queich.
The city of Landau is also known as a cultural centre of the Southern Palatinate and its scene of live music will carry you away. Outstanding are also the historical buildings like the chapel Katharinenkapelle or the Augustinian's church with its Gothic cloister. The city gallery called Villa Streccius, the Strieffler House, the Frank Loebsche House, the Old Department Store and last but not least the Art Nouveau City Hall imprint on the city‘s cultural life.
A "must" is not only for reptile's fans a visit to the Reptilium. Reptiles from different climate zones have found their homes in extremely wide terrariums as well as water basins with windows reaching down to the floor. The Reptilium is simply a unique experience. It borders the nature reserve of Ebenberg, a former military site, which just recently was announced as „national natural heritage“.
More information (in German): http://www.landau.de/startseite.phtml
Photo: Festhalle Landau; Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock
