Deidesheim

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Deidesheim's town hall built in 1532

Deidesheim
Country	Germany
State	Rhineland-Palatinate
District	Bad Dürkheim
Population	3,753 (December 31, 2005)
Population density	142 /km²
Elevation	117 m
Coordinates	49°24′ N 08°11′ E
Postal code	67146
Area code	(for 'phoning) 06326
Licence plate code	DÜW
Mayor	Manfred Dörr (CDU)
Website	www.deidesheim.de

Deidesheim is a small town (population approx 4000) and a municipality in the district of Bad Dürkheim, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the eastern edge of the Pfälzer Wald, approx. 8 km north-east of Neustadt an der Weinstraße and 20 km south-west of Ludwigshafen.

Principal economic activities include viticulture and tourism: Deidesheim features a wider range of restaurants than is normal for this size of town, supplemented by a range of refreshment booths during the annual Weinfest each August and the Weinachtsmarkt (Christmas market) each December. The recent opening of a relief road to the west of the little town has reduced pressure from through traffic on the Weinstraße (Wine Street - a designated Tourist Route), which here follows the main north-south street through the town. To the east, once you pass through the belt of vineyards, the Pfälzer Wald offers excellent walks.

Deidesheim contains several interesting monuments including the intriguing 'Geißbock' (billy goat) fountain which may splash the unwary. Between the 'Geißbock' fountain and the low key war memorial is to be found the old synagogue. The former Rathaus (Town Hall) next to St Ulrich's church, now houses a small museum. On the west side of the town, opposite the railway station, the lavish municipal offices constructed at the end of the twentieth century testify to the prosperity that came to Deidesheim in the 1990s.

During the Chancellorship of Dr Helmut Kohl, who was born in Friesenheim and lived for a long time in Oggersheim (both suburbs of nearby Ludwigshafen), Deidesheim received periodic visits from the Chancellor and accompanying international statesmen who were entertained to lavish dinners incorporating Saumagen, one of the chancellor's favourite local dishes, washed down with the excellent local wine. Saumagen comprises a pig's stomach, stuffed with pork, root vegetables, herbs and seasoning. The precise balance of ingredients is variable. Saumagen is normally cut into slices approximately 1cm thick and fried in an open pan. Delicious, but high in fat and salt, Saumagen is not recommended for slimmers.

Deidesheim is also the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde ("collective municipality") Deidesheim, which consists of the following Ortsgemeinden ("local municipalities"):