Hessen Germany

Cities, medieval towns, beautiful scenery

Quick Facts of Hessen Germany

• Population - Bevölkerung: 6,060,841
• Size - Fläche: 21,114 km², it's the 7th largest state
• Capital - Hauptstadt: Wiesbaden
• Largest City - grösste Stadt: Frankfurt am Main
• Geography: Lowlands around Frankfurt and along the Rhine, low mountain ranges and river valleys
• Highest Mountain - Wasserkuppe 950 m (3100 ft) in the Rhön
• History - Although settlement in Hessen goes back to the ancient tribe of the Chatti, the boundaries of modern Hesse only exist since 1945.

Regions, landscapes & attractions in Hessen Germany

• The landscapes in Hessen are dominated by low mountain ranges.
  Rhön, Taunus, Vogelsberg, and Odenwald are in the central and southern parts, while Kaufunger Wald, Kellerwald, Knüll and Hoher Meissner are in the north.
  Each of these ranges has its own character. The common feature is that they are all dotted with lovely towns and villages.
• Mount Wasserkuppe in the Rhön hills is a gliding centre, the world's first gliding school opened here in 1924.
• The Vogelsberg is known as one of the largest extinct volcanic fields on earth.
• The Wetterau north of Frankfurt, and the hessisches Ried are the only lowlands in Hessen.
• Major rivers like the Main, Lahn, Fulda, Eder and Kinzig have carved lovely valleys into the mountain ranges.

• The Rhine doesn't flow through Hessen (apart from the "Old Rhine" arm in the Kühkopf Nature Reserve near Riedstadt). However, the river builds a part of Hessen's western border with Rhineland-Palatinate between Lampertheim in the south, and Lorchhausen west of Wiesbaden.
• North Hesse is fairy-tale country. The Brothers Grimm lived many years in Kassel, and collected the tales of the region.
  Sababurg is known as the castle of Sleeping Beauty as it was surrounded by a 5km long and 3m high thorn hedge in the 16th century. The Hoher Meissner is said to be the home of Frau Holle.
• Leisure activities in Hessen include hiking, bicycling, fishing, watersports in summer. Skiing, especially cross-country skiing, and sledging are possible in many regions, when we have snow.
• Bicycle fans will be happy about long distance bicycle trails along the rivers. They are easy to ride and offer beautiful scenery. Motorcyclists however, enjoy the rolling hills for a pleasure ride on the weekends.
• Scenic routes in Hessen guide you to historic places, picturesque half-timbered towns and places of historic relevance. Take the fairy tale road or the idyllic road and enjoy the most unique places in Hessen.
• The Bergstrasse goes straight southwards from Darmstadt to Heidelberg and Wiesloch in Baden-Wurttemberg. It is a lovely drive along the foothills of the Odenwald. The road passes through lovely towns with half-timbered houses, the hills are dotted with castles and ruins.
  The mild climate gives the Bergstrasse region almost an Italian flair, with almond, fig and olive trees growing here.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hessen:
  
  Kloster Lorsch (Lorsch Abbey) - The famous Königshalle (Royal Hall) from the ninth century is one of the most important monuments of Carolingian architecture in Germany. Lorsch is in the south near Bensheim (Bergstrasse)
  
  Grube Messel (Messel Pit) near Darmstadt is a former quarry with unusual well-preserved fossils telling us about the early stages of mammal evolution. Fossil Ida, said to be the missing link in human evolution, was discovered at the Messel pit in 1983.
  
  Upper Middle Rhine valley from Bingen to Koblenz is on the UNESCO list on behalf of the whole river Rhine. The narrow Rhine valley is extremely scenic and a famous tourist attraction.

Cities & towns in Hessen Germany

• Kassel - The main city in Hesse's north is known as the capital of the German Fairy Tale Road (deutsche Märchenstrasse). The Brothers Grimm lived many years in Kassel collecting fairy tales from the area.
  Bad Wilhelmshöhe, the Documenta and glorious buildings from its past as a residence for princes are the main attractions.
• Limburg is another beautiful medieval city on the Lahn river. The impressive cathedral can be seen from far away.
• Marburg - The city on the Lahn river has the oldest protestant university in the world. The city on the hills has a well-preserved Altstadt (old town), topped by a castle. It is an old city, however, the students keep Marburg young and alive.

Old town Marburg

St. George's cathedral in Limburg

• Wiesbaden - The hot springs in Wiesbaden have a long history. They were already used by Romans in the first century. The Staatstheater (state theatre), Kurhaus, the Landtag and many other impressive mansions build the flair of Wiesbaden.
• Frankfurt is the largest city in Hessen. Economically, it is one of the most important cities in Germany. Known as Bankfurt and Mainhattan, it has the most impressive skyline of all German cities. However, Frankfurt has many more attractions, and a lot of charme. You'll be surprised.

• Bad Homburg vor der Höhe is on the edge of the Taunus mountains. It was the favourite spa town of German emperors, Wilhelm II. even made Bad Homburg his summer residence. It was the centre of German aristocracy in the imperial past. Today it is the place of the "financial" aristocracy.
• Bad Nauheim - With its brine bath, Bad Nauheim is one of the leading health resorts, famous for treatment and rehabilitation of heart diseases.
  Bad Nauheim is internationally known as the city where Elvis Presley lived during his time with the US-Army in nearby Friedberg.
• Hanau, the city where the Grimm Brothers were born is not far away from Frankfurt. Hanau has many attractions, and is a great base to explore the highlights of the Rhine-Main area, Spessart and Vogelsberg. Visit Hanau and the beautiful Schloss Philippsruhe.
• Gelnhausen - was founded by Staufer emperor Friedrich I. Barbarossa. The Kaiserpfalz is one of the best preserved palaces of the Staufer Dynasty.
• Fulda - A monastery was founded here in 744. Today it is the major centre in east Hessen. Discover the city that has "baroque status" and is surrounded by beautiful nature.

Seedammbad in Bad Homburg

Source: Wikipedia public domain

Schlitz, Vogelsberg

• Darmstadt is known as the city of science and the centre of Jugenstil (art nouveau). Two lakes, several pools and a beautiful Jugendstilbad invite to relax after a day of sightseeing.
• Michelstadt - The medieval Altstadt (old town) is a beautiful example of half-timbered ensembles. The gothic town hall with its three towers was built in 1484, and hasn't changed much in more than 500 centuries.

Map of Hessen Germany

Events in Hessen Germany

How to get around in Hessen Germany

Hotels in Hessen Germany