Wiesbaden on the Rhine River

Wiesbaden is the spa-town capital of Hesse in Germany. It is a lovely and lively commercial center offering visitors historic attractions and green parks. The city lies on the eastern edge of the Rheingau wine-growing region.

The convention center is housed in the neo-Classical Kurhaus built in 1907. There is much to see in the interior like the Main Hall with marble floors and granite columns, Greco-Roman style statuary, sparkling dome mosaics, and a casino.

Outside is a neo-Classical plaza with three fountains lit up at night. Residents of the city call the lawn The Bowling Green and it is perfect for romantic strolls.

The Palace Square or Schlossplatz is popular with visitors. Here you can see the Market Fountain dating from 1537, the Old Town Hall from 1610 and across the square is the New Town Hall. On the north side is the neo-Classical Stadtschloss once built for Duke Wilhelm von Nassau and is now the home of the Hessian State Parliament.

Built of bright red bricks is the Protestant neo-Gothic Marktkirche. The church has a Glockenspiel with 49 bronze bells weighing 13kg and 2,300kg. This church hosts organ concerts. The tower of Market Church is 92 meters high and it is the tallest building in the city. In the front of the church is the statue of William of Orange a.k.a. William the Silent.

Neroberg is Wiesbaden’s hillside estate.

The view is awesome and there is a lion statue.

The best way to get to the top is to take the historic funicular railway inaugurated in 1888. It is managed by the Hessian State Wine Estates.

For those who want to commune with nature, there is the Neroberg Nature Trail, over three kilometers long where you can walk in the forest. For the more athletic and adventurous there is the Neroberg Climbing Course which is guided by experienced experts and offers the opportunity to try “tree to tree” athletics.

The Wiesbaden Art Museum features paintings, sculptures, and installations among them works by the Old Masters, 20th-century American minimalists, and the Russian expressionist Alexei Jawlensky, who lived in Wiesbaden for the last 20 years of his life.

The ruined Frauenstein Castle was built as a watchtower sometime around 1184. The castle was constructed with high walls and battlements to protect the farmers in the area. The German name Frauen-stein translates to “women’s stone”. The castle is located in a lovely park where visitors can find a restful oasis. The building itself features the “Field of Experience” offering visitors a hands-on adventure including a touch gallery, a dark bar, resonating boards, and Goethe’s Theory of Colors. The “Society of Nature and Art” offers this venue for organized events and conferences.

Featuring more than 50 experimental stations The Freudenberg Mansion Interactive Museum challenges and stimulates your senses. There are many sensations of sounds, vibrations, scents, and light. Among the highlights is the “barefoot trail” where visitors with their feet can experience new textures and feelings. There is also the darkness of the labyrinth, painting with sound and vibration exploration.

Take a trip back to ancient Rome at the Roman Open-Air Museum. The Roman Gate here dates back to 364 A.D. You can learn a lot about Roman history here.

Take a pleasant walk through the old winding streets of the Old Town.

Highlights include Heathen’s Wall, the oldest structure in Wiesbaden, and the Backerbrunnen Fountain.

A popular sightseeing spot is the Burg Sonnenberg Castle which towers over the city. Today it is home to a small museum with a terrace restaurant that offers great views over the city.

Wiesbaden is famous for having the world’s largest Cuckoo Clock. This monumental cuckoo clock strikes every half hour.

The Town Hall is an impressive example of neo-Renaissance architecture and features changing artwork displays in the foyer.

Kurpark is a lovely green oasis designed as an English landscape garden. It was founded in 1852 and has lovely azaleas, magnolias, rhododendrons, and swamp cypresses. There is a man-made island which can be reached by boat from the park’s pond. The pond has a 6-meter-high fountain.

The Baroque English garden Biebrich Palace Park serves as a venue for city events and conferences, including the International Whitsun Horse Show. From the park’s bistro-cafe you can get stunning views of the Rhine River.

Herbert and Reisinger Park is a nature park created on the former Imperial Railway grounds. This is a lovely park with vast green lawns, wonderful fountains, and specially designed water basins.