Bad Dürkheim (German pronunciation: [ˌbaːt ˈdʏʁkhaɪm])[2] is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

The eastern rim of the Palatinate forest has been densely populated since the Middle Ages.

Several medieval castles show the significance of the region during the early Holy Roman Empire.

The dialect of Bad Dürkheim and environs is closer to the Pennsylvania Dutch language—also known as Pennsylvania German or as Deitsch, the native tongue of the Amish and others—than any other dialect of German.

[citation needed] The district is located on the eastern rim of the Palatinate Forest a line of hills called the Haardt.