Pirmasens

　　Pirmasens is a district-free city in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, located near the border with France. It is the capital of the Südwestpfalz district and is entirely surrounded by it. The city lies on the western edge of the Palatinate Forest and was once known as Germany’s “shoe capital.”

　　Pirmasens boasts numerous museums. Due to its history as a shoe manufacturing hub, it is home to a Shoe Museum that primarily traces the origins and development of the footwear industry in the city. The Siegfried Line Museum is a war-themed museum that also serves as a memorial for peace, where visitors can view a large collection of military equipment, mainly from private collections. Other noteworthy museums include those dedicated to the German poet and Dadaist artist Hugo Ball, the German landscape painter Heinrich Bürkel, and a science and technology museum.

　　Pirmasens Reason to visit: Capital of the Südwestpfalz district in Germany Continent: Europe Country/Region: Germany State/Province: Rhineland-Palatinate City: Pirmasens