Town in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Oppenheim is a city of 7,600 people (2020) at the Rhine in the state Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Katharinenkirche
Built 1220-1439, often named 'the most outstanding Gothic church on the Rhine between Cologne and Strasbourg'. Some of the stained glass windows are still genuine from the 14th century. Sometimes (mostly Sundays) the church's main tower is open for visitors. If you get a chance, do climb it. The effort of the many stairs is rewarded by a spectacular view of the town.
Beinhaus
Situated in the lower floor of the Michaelskapelle. Bones of 20,000 people, neatly stacked around 1400-1750, are a creepy view. The golden skull in the center, however, was left there after a TV production.
Renaissance well built 1546. The name and the well's design stem from the three "Geschlechter" (noble houses) Dalberg, Frankenstein and Gemmingen.
Church building of a former Fanciscan monastery that was founded around 1316(?). After various changes turned into a Catholic church in 1686.
Burg Landskron
Ruins of castle built in the 16th century on the remains of an even older (11th century?) castle, destroyed in 1689. Located at the very top you can get a great view of the town and the surrounding countryside. During summer the ruins are sometimes used for theatre performances. If you walk from the ruins past the Ruprechtsturm downstairs to the Clock Tower you might notice a huge chunk of curved brickwork (to the left of a small viewing balcony, nowadays almost completely overgrown). This is a piece of the castle's round main tower. Despite weighing several tons, it was hurled hundreds of meters when the tower was blown up in 1689.
Last remaining gate building of the town's 13th century fortifications. The Gautor was in fact the inner of two fortified gates, the outer one no longer exists.
"Schneiderturm"
Small stone tower built in 1903 on the foundations of the old Schneiderturm, which was destroyed in 1689. The 13th century Schneiderturm (Tailors' Tower) was part of the city fortifications. Various guilds had to guard different parts of the city, and the physically weak tailors were assigned responsibility for this easy to defend steep decline.
Uhrturm
The lower part is what remains of the 13th century "Zollturm" or "Weißer Turm" (Toll Tower or White Tower), which was part of the city fortifications and destroyed in 1689. The upper part was built in 1843-44.
Oppenheim Cellar Maze
under the Old Town, sometimes also called Stadt unter der Stadt (City beneath the city). Spurred by the city's uneasy past and the soft yet sustainable soil, Oppenheim's medieval inhabitants dug at least 40 km worth of tunnels and rooms beneath the 'visible' city. Among other things, the St Catherine's Church's stained glass windows survived here not only several medieval wars but also WWII bombings. A part of the tunnels have been made accessible to the public. Guided tours (in several languages) are offered by the town’s tourism and festival play bureau. The underground rooms also sometimes host theatre performances and other events.
Deutsches Weinbaumuseum
Showing old methods and tools for wine production.
Restaurant Stivale
By car
The B9 state road connects Oppenheim to Mainz and Worms. Just north of the town is the Nierstein car ferry across the Rhine in the direction of Darmstadt.
There is no public transportation (the only buses are school buses), but the city, particularly the Old Town, is so small that you can walk everywhere within minutes.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Frankfurt am Main · International · FRA
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Oppenheim and Germany.
Understand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
Estimate your Europe trip cost for 2 weeks in 2026. Compare realistic budgets for lodging, Eurail trains, dining, and sightseeing across three styles.
8 min read
Plan your trip with our Oktoberfest 2027 guide. Learn how to reserve beer tent tables, understand Munich hotel booking windows, and budget daily costs.
8 min read
Explore the best castle and gothic hotel stays in Europe. Discover historic fortresses, medieval estates, luxury châteaux, and Spanish parador hotels.
6 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.