Hesse

The Schifflersgrund Border Museum on the Hesse-Thuringia border houses vehicles, helicopters and numerous other exhibits from the time when Germany was divided.

Surrounded by dense woodland, the spa town of Bad Orb is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Saline air at the salt works and the beneficial powers of the moor have created a special healthy environment.

The Rheingau wine region is home to the world-famous Riesling vine. In wine circles it’s known as the ‘queen of the vines’ and not without reason.

Rüsselsheim am Main is a gem in the Rhine-Main-Region. Our city offers attractive sights and great events. A must-visit for all culture lovers and urban travellers.

The region of Waldhessen comprises the towns of Hersfeld, Rotenburg an der Fulda, Bebra and Heringen and the rivers Fulda and Werra. The densely wooded low mountain range is ideal for a variety of excursions.

Taking a stroll through the historic old town is how to see Gudensberg at its attractive best. Colourful timber-frame houses line the market square at the foot of an ancient, coned-shaped volcanic hill.

The historic old town in Herborn with its many, multi-storeyed timber-frame houses surrounding the market square has a number of treasures to offer.

Located on the rolling hills of the Taunus region, the historic old town of Hofheim is where history and modernity combine.

The spa town of Bad Wildungen with its picturesque, medieval old town, Wilhelminian villas and magnificent art nouveau buildings is the perfect place to relax and unwind.

The historic heritage of Wetterau’s archaeological landscape dates back more than 2500 years. Both the Celts and the Romans left their mark here.

Known locally as the Auenverbund Wetterau, the area resembles a hand with outstretched fingers and is formed by the floodplains of five rivers.

The charming spa town of Bad Salzhausen on the River Nidda promises nothing but rest and relaxation. The curative effect of the town’s salt was proven by Justus Liebig in 1860.

The Hohe Meißner mountain is regarded as the home of the Brothers Grimm character Frau Holle. But it’s not only in winter that the highest peak in the Grimms’ homeland of North Hesse has a particular charm.

It’s hard to believe but the lively town of Seligenstadt am Main can look back on a history of more than 1900 years.

The walk-through heart is the main attraction of the Kinder-Akademie Fulda and is the only one of its kind in Europe. As a red blood cell, you follow the red flow and the cycle of life through the oversized chambers of the heart.

Homberg Efze is nestled in the wonderfully unique volcanic landscape of the Knüll, a low mountain range in North Hesse.

The Kinzig Valley is nestled between the Vogelsberg and Spessart low mountain ranges. A number of fascinating towns surrounded by stunning natural scenery can be found along the valley such as Hanau, Gelnhausen and Schlüchtern.

The medieval Haydau Abbey is the best preserved Cistercian abbey in Hesse. After the reformation it was used as a hunting lodge, today it is a centre for culture and communications with an adjoining hotel.

The Royal Doll’s House Museum in Laubach is the collection of the late Princess Monika of Hannover. Around eighty doll’s houses from the art nouveau, Wilhelminian, and Biedermeier eras are on display in a historic, timber-frame barn.

The art nouveau baths of Bad Nauheim with its Sprudelhof courtyard represents the heart of the spa town and the largest enclosed art nouveau complex in Europe. In its entirety it is reminiscent of a Baroque palace and monastery.

This museum in Hünfeld bears the name of the inventor of the computer, Konrad Zuse. In 1941, he presented to the world the first functional, programme-controlled and freely programmable calculating machine.

With its 2000-year-old discoveries, the locally entitled Keltenwelt am Glauberg is a true archaeological sensation. The undisputed highlight is the Celtic chieftain: a life-size sandstone statue and the only one of its kind worldwide.

Frankfurt’s oldest district is not renowned for its skyscrapers. The historic old town of Höchst with its medieval alleys on the banks of the River Main has been under a preservation order since 1970.

In the western part of North Hesse, you will find the action-packed region of Waldecker Land. Hikes, cycling tours or a visit of to the Baroque palace in Bad Arolsen or the towns of Korbach and Frankenberg will add even more variety to your leisure break.

The splendour of the Baroque era comes to life in Fulda. The impressive buildings and art monuments tell of the pomp and glamour of this era.

The 41-metre-high Wilhelmsturm tower atop the Schlossberg is a lasting memorial to William of Orange and is the town’s famous landmark that greets visitors from afar.

The Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, the only national park in Hesse, is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers.

The airlift memorial at Frankfurt Airport is the counterpart to the memorial in Berlin. Both are in memory of the incredible efforts to supply the former capital from the air following its isolation after the war.

The volcanoes in the Hoher Vogelsberg Nature Park have been extinct for some 15 million years. What they have left behind, however, is a unique natural landscape of striking basalt outcrops and stream-cut valleys.

The cathedral town, the imperial town or the town of towers – the medieval town of Fritzlar has over the years acquired many names.

Named after the goshawk falcon, the Habichtswald Nature Park couldn’t be more diverse with its secluded woodlands, bizarre rock formations, juniper heathlands and gigantic trees.

The Meißner Wildlife Park and Germerode Abbey are located in the beautiful Frau Holle Land Geo-Nature Park. In the large park you will encounter free-roaming stags, deer and mouflon sheep.

The fairy-tale land of Dorothea Viehmann was brought to everyone’s awareness by the famous Brothers Grimm. The innkeeper’s daughter was one of the most important sources for 40 of their 200-plus children’s and household tales.

Although this is the youngest of the nature parks in Hesse, there’s no reason for it to hide behind its more established counterparts. Surrounded by the rivers Dill and Lahn, the romantic low-mountain scenery is perfect for slowing the pace of life down.

The lakes, rivers and wooded hills make the Hesse Highlands a wonderful destination. Visit the modern cosmopolitan city of Kassel, enjoy an active break or embark on a fairy-tale journey to enchanting castles and palaces.

Nestled between the rolling hills and green woodlands of the Spessart low mountain range is the 13th-century Ronneburg Castle, one of only a few hilltop castles in Hesse still in its original state.

The lovingly restored old town of Lich is a hive of activity and a popular place to meet. Particularly striking is the Textorhaus from the 16th century with its wonderful carvings and inscriptions.

The magnificent Arolsen Castle is the town’s famous landmark and is known as the Versailles of the Waldeck region. The name is certainly justified as the castle was modelled on French designs.

In Germany, the name Selters is a synonym for excellent drinking water all thanks to the Niederselters mineral spring. An insight into this famous mineral water can be gained by visiting the Selters Water Museum.

King Frederick I, Barbarossa, founded the town of Gelnhausen in 1170. The imperial palace was also built at this time. Today it is considered as the best-preserved palace of the Staufer dynasty in Germany. Visitors can expect romantic ruins in the medieval town.

Historical. Fabulous. Lively! Take a trip to the town of fairytales and half-timbered houses with the world-famous Alsfeld town hall.

Picturesque old town alleys, colorful timber-frame houses, cultural life and nature activities – all this and much more awaits you in the former Nassau Residence Town of Idstein.

From its steep hilltop location, Spangenberg Castle can look back on more than 800 years of fascinating history. The former castle, fortress and hunting lodge has over the years also been a prison and a forestry school, and is now a hotel.

The wine and rose town of Eltville is idyllically located between woods, vines and the Rhine. In summer, around 22,000 rose bushes come into flower on the romantic river promenade and around the castle, the town’s historic landmark.

Bad Soden-Salmünster has been renowned for its salt springs for centuries. It’s the perfect place for a wellness break and for relaxing and recharging your batteries.

The rose village of Steinfurth is the oldest of its kind and is renowned far beyond the German borders. It is here that the queen of flowers is celebrated in countless gardens, nurseries and in a unique rose museum.

Berlepsch Castle, located in the picturesque Werra Valley, has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times since the 14th century. Today, the castle is still run by descendants of the counts of Berlepsch.

Fasanerie Castle in Eichenzell was originally built as a modest country house but was later converted by the future prince-bishop of Fulda into an impressive summer residence and the finest Baroque castle in Hesse.

Laubach Castle can be easily reached on foot after strolling through the old town. It consists of three, horseshoe-shaped structures that are interlocked with one another.

The Sababurg Wildlife Park is located in the heart of the Reinhardswald hills. It’s the oldest zoological garden in Germany to still occupy its original site. Covering an area of 13 hectares, the park contains a variety of wildlife.

The UNESCO Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald unites two regions between the Rhine, Main and Neckar rivers. The Bergstraße region is Germany’s spring garden, something that even the Romans recognised.

The striking silhouette of the Münzenberg Castle with its two round keeps can be seen far beyond the boundary of the Wetterau district and has led to the castle being known locally as the Wetterau inkwells.

Well shielded by thick woodland is Hesse’s largest hilltop castle, Herzberg Castle. Stunningly beautiful views can be enjoyed from its mighty walls.

Nestled among the gentle Taunus hills in a lush green valley is the dreamy castle town of Eppstein. The castle is used as the emblem for numerous cultural events such as the castle festival.

Frankenstein Castle is a wonderful place to give yourself the creeps. Its ancient walls and associated legends make it a wonderfully eerie place for ghost stories.

Everything revolves around fire protection in the German Fire Fighting Museum. Exhibits ranging from historic leather buckets to impressive fire engines are featured in the extensive exhibition.

Surrounded by woodlands and meadows, this lake landscape known locally as the Borkener Seenland is a popular destination, particularly for water lovers.

Embark on a journey back in time to medieval Büdingen. The red sandstone Jerusalem Gate is the emblem of the town.

Staufenberg Castle was once in fact two castles: The upper castle and the lower castle.

The documenta is one of the world’s most important exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

The market square in the historic town of Butzbach is surrounded by wonderful timber-frame houses, the town’s medieval church and numerous courtyards.

The two impressive towers in front of you are part of the ruins of Greifenstein Castle. Together with the magnificent baroque church and the secretive casements, they belong to the best preserved parts of the almost 800-year-old castle.

The German Leather Museum in Offenbach am Main takes you on a journey through five continents and 6000 years of leather history.

The original Romrod Castle was an 11th-century moated castle of the Staufer dynasty. Thanks to painstaking restoration several years ago, the venerable walls were given a new lease of life.

The Wetterau Limes have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. It represents one of the largest sections of the famous Roman border wall in Hesse.

The proximity to the cosmopolitan Rhine-Main Region on the one side and the beautiful unspoilt nature on the other, make this nature park a very special place.

The Wetterau Lake District is a wonderful destination for relaxing and recreation in the heart of Hesse. It comprises eight large and numerous small lakes – many of which offer perfect conditions for water sports and angling.

The Roman fortress in Saalburg is the world’s only completely reconstructed Roman fortress and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.

Living in the Knüll Wildlife Park’s 50 hectares of woods and meadows are around 450 animals. The various species of deer and wild sheep can move freely throughout the park. Brown bears and wolves share a spacious enclosure.

In the Gersfeld Wildlife Park you can discover the wild side of the Rhön Mountains. Explore the idyllic and unspoilt Wiesental valley with its coniferous and mixed forest surrounds.

The Alte Fasanerie Wildlife Park is a wonderful destination for a day in Hanau’s natural surroundings. Among the mature trees, a variety of rare and shy animals can be observed such as wild cats, wolves, lynxes and elks.

The Messel Pit Fossil Site was the first German natural monument to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. With its spectacular finds such as the 48-million-year-oid primeval horse, it offers an insight into the early evolution of mammals.

Dreieich with its old town of historic treasures is located on the Deutsche Fachwerkstraße - a tourist route connecting towns with particularly attractive timber-frame buildings.

Der Naturpark Diemelsee ist wunderbares Wanderland mit neun über 800 Meter hohen Bergen, weiten Tälern, tiefen Wäldern und Wiesen, und seinem Herzstück, dem Diemelsee, dessen klares Wasser Taucher, Segler und Surfer anlockt.

In the Merkers Adventure Mine you will immerse yourself into the world of ‘white gold’. Up until 1991, salt was mined here deep below ground. The hoisting cage will lower you down to a depth of 500 metres within 90 seconds.

Even from a distance Frankfurt am Main bids you a warm welcome with its unique skyline. Thanks to the unmistakable silhouette of its high-rise buildings, the locals affectionately call it Mainhattan.

High above the rooftops of the town of Petersberg is the Church of St Lioba. In the 8th century she was a close confidant of the renowned missionary Bonifatius.

The former imperial town of Friedberg was one of Hesse’s most important towns in the Middle Ages. The town’s heyday was in the middle of the 13th century thanks to the cloth trade.

The house in which the famous author Georg Büchner was born is in Riedstadt-Goddelau. A permanent exhibition in the timber-frame house from 1665 recalls his work as a poet, a natural scientist and a revolutionary.

In the Taunus Wunderland Amusement Park, fun and adventure for the whole family has been the name of the game for over 50 years.

Point Alpha was one of four US observation posts on the former inner-German border. The memorial recalls the time of the Cold War.

A beautiful circular trail along enchanted paths connects the Gleiberg and the Vetzberg hills. The two castle ruins greet one another from their rocky outcrops.

The romantic town of Melsungen with its timber-frame architecture is a colourful treasure chest of historic houses and narrow alleyways.

The strip of no-man’s land marking the former inner-German border stretched between East and West Germany for almost 1400 km.

The silhouette of the former Benedictine monastery in Schlüchtern is dominated by its pointed towers. Its 8th century crypt means it is one of the oldest religious buildings in the region.

The Bad Hersfeld community love their abbey ruins, known locally as the Stiftsruine, particularly when it forms the spectacular backdrop to their annual festival.

The Lochmühle Amusement Park has been a popular destination in the Taunus region for more than 50 years.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe with its Baroque fountains is a unique cultural landmark. Even from afar you can see the impressive Hercules statue, the landmark of the city of Kassel.

The Steinau Theme Park is located in the fairy-tale landscape of the Spessart low mountain range and is the largest theme park in East Hesse.

The Field Chapel can be found in a somewhat hidden location, surrounded by fruit trees on the edge of the woods, close to Wiesbaden.

The medieval town of Grünberg enchants its visitors with a wonderful historic old town and the picturesque Brunnental valley – see for yourself!

The Wasserkuppe, the mountain of aviators, is the highest point in Hesse. The sport of gliding actually began here.

Renowned for its greenery, Gießen is a town where life and the pursuit of science has been flourishing for centuries. The 400-year-old Justus Liebig University is named after the German scientist and one of the town’s famous sons.

Heusenstamm lies in the heart of the modern Frankfurt Rhine Main region. The lively town with an 800-year-old history is proud of its treasures.

The mighty complex of Auerbach Castle in the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region is situated above the town of Bensheim.

The Lahn Marble Museum in Villmar tells the history of the limestone that is typical for this region. Due to its wonderful texture and similarities to its famous stone colleague, it was called marble.

In the small Bergstraße wine region, more than 400 winegrowers cultivate a variety of vines ranging from Burgundy to Dornfelder. One speciality is the Red Riesling, an ancient grape variety that has thankfully been rediscovered.

Densely wooded hills and flower-strewn meadows provide the backdrop for the River Werra as it meanders its way through the Werratal.

The original moated castle was built at the end of the 13th century before being destroyed. Today, a small castle with an exclusive hotel stands on the site.

The Schöffer memorial in Gernsheim honours the co-inventor of letterpress printing. Peter Schöffer was born in this Rhine-side town in 1425.

It almost looks as if the parish church of St. Lubentius in Dietkirchen, with its striking towers, is growing out of jagged outcrop beneath it.

Due to being the home of a number of important research institutions, Darmstadt has held the ‘City of Science’ title since 1997. One such facility of international importance is the European Space Agency’s operations centre.

It’s no coincidence that the Zeppelin Museum is located close to the largest airport in Germany. When airships first took to the skies here in the 1930s, the residential area of Zeppelinheim was founded.

The North Hesse towns of Wolfhagen, Breuna, Naumburg and Schauenburg make up the district known as the Wolfhager Land. In the Geopark Region more than 250 million years of geological history can be discovered.

The small Taunus town of Bad Camberg, renowned for its historic old town, is proud of the therapeutic powers of its soil.

Schlitz is renowned for its four castles and large keep, hence it being referred to as the castle town. Pretty timber-frame buildings form the impressive town wall that surrounds the old town.

Located in the historic spa gardens, the Wilhelmsbad was a renowned and thriving 18th-century spa facility in the town of Hanau. The late Baroque buildings and the English landscape garden are almost completely intact.

A castle towers up on either side of the river in the Werra valley near Wendershausen, with Ludwigstein Castle in Hesse and Hanstein Castle on the Thuringia side.

Welcome to Steinau an der Straße, where the world-famous brothers Grimm spent their childhood. Follow their footsteps with a visit in their former family house, which is home to an exciting museum today.

The town of Wetzlar is where literary history and technology unite. It is where poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe drew inspiration for one of his most famous works: The Sorrows of Young Werther.

Wächtersbach Castle was originally built in the 12th century as a hunting lodge and secure residence by Frederick I, commonly known as Barbarossa.

More than 100 historic buildings ranging from a church to a mill are on display in the Hessenpark Open-air Museum. In this model village close to Neu-Anspach, you can immerse yourself into 400 years of history relating to the daily lives of Hessian folk.

A perfect view of Limburg Cathedral can be enjoyed from the new bridge over the River Lahn. Perched high on a limestone outcrop it towers majestically over the city.

Starkenburg Castle is perched atop the Schlossberg, 295m above the town of Heppenheim. Little remains of the upper castle from 1065 and the impressive keep was only rebuilt in 1930.

The Leine - Werra - Fulda - Weser cycling region allows you to explore four river areas by bicycle using a wide variety of routes.

The Nice of the North is how many describe Wiesbaden – the state capital of Hesse. Dominating the landscape are elegant villas, spacious parks and the historic Kurhaus assembly rooms.

The Lahn valley forms a natural boundary between the Taunus and the Westerwald and is home to the picture-perfect castle town of Runkel.

The Northern Kuppenrhön is part of the UNESCO Rhön Biosphere Reserve. Vulcanised cone-shaped mountains, picturesque towns and unspoilt nature can be explored on many wonderful foot and cycle paths.

The lovingly restored old town of Steinheim can no longer be considered a well-kept secret. Its historic half-timbered houses, cozy restaurants and virtually complete circle of medieval walls make it a popular destination.

The university city of Marburg is all about historic buildings in the old town, winding little streets and a lovely natural setting near the Lahn.

Weilburg Castle and its gardens sit atop a rocky outcrop towering over the town of the same name on the Lahn.

Braunfels Castle is visible from afar, sitting atop a basalt wedge above the town of the same name.

Neuenstein Castle sits atop a steep-sided limestone outcrop close to the town of Bad Hersfeld. The main building features a square design with red and white window shutters and pretty oriel windows.

The Mathildenhöhe complex in Darmstadt with its Wedding Tower and Russian Chapel is the city’s main landmark. It was here in 1899 that the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony was founded and existed until 1914.

The beach resort of Kinzigsee extends across a total of nearly 60 acres along the edge of the town of Langenselbold.

Lorsch Abbey, located in the Rhein-Neckar Metropolitan Region, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The impressive Königshalle entrance hall is the abbey’s best preserved building and a real highlight from the early Carolingian period.

Once home to counts and princes, Hadamar can look back on more than 1,200 years of history.

The Brömserburg, once a moated castle, has been as much a part of Rüdesheim as the Rhine and the vineyards for some 1,000 years.

The Rheingau Music Festival is one of the largest in Europe and has been drawing music lovers from all over the world to the region for more than 30 years.