Wiesbaden: Germany’s Special City
Wiesbaden is a city located in the district of Hesse in Germany. Wiesbaden is the federal capital of Hesse. The city is not only one of the oldest spa towns in Europe (since 14 out of the 26 hot springs are still in function today), but also a brilliant example of atmosphere and architecture. It is the fantastic climate that gives Wiesbaden the name “Nice of the North”. The tenth richest city in Germany, Wiesbaden is also the best place to visit when you are in need of solitude, or you want to spend quality time with your kith and kin.
Location:
Wiesbaden is situated on the bank of River Rhine in Hesse, Germany. The city is located in the south of Taunus Mountain.
Climate:
Wiesbaden has a temperate oceanic climate. July and August are the warmest months of the year with an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. January and February are generally the coldest months with an average drop in temperature at the rate of -1 degree Celsius. Rainfall is highest in the month of June, with a mean precipitation of 68mm. Therefore, the ideal time to visit Wiesbaden is in the months of March to May, when the weather is pleasant here.
History:
Present day evidence suggests that Wiesbaden dates back to the Neolithic Age. Wiesbaden’s thermal springs were first mentioned in Pliny’s book Naturalis Historia. Wiesbaden became an imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire in 1232. Just ten years later, however, Emperor Frederick II ordered Wiesbaden’s destruction due to a fall out with Archbishop of Mainz, Siegfried III. Wiesbaden participated in the German Peasant’s War of 1525 and hence lost all the privileges bestowed upon it by the virtue of being an imperial city over the last forty years.
The end of the World War I saw Wiesbaden fall under Rhineland and being occupied by the French Army in 1918. The U.S. Army Forces again captured Wiesbaden on 28th March 1945. Wiesbaden today, however, houses the U.S. Army Europe Headquarters and Mission Command Centre.
Today, Wiesbaden is well known for its thermal spas as well as gambling. While spring bathing existed in the city since the middle ages, it was in the 19th century that gambling made its presence noticed among the lifestyles of the citizens.
How to get there:
Wiesbaden is located minutes away from the Europe’s busiest transport hub – Frankfurt. This makes Wiesbaden easily reachable, with the airport, train, and roadways easily available as mode of transport all the time. Wiesbaden is also very well connected to the other neighboring cities like Mainz and Cologne; travel times being 15 minutes and 2 hours from Mainz and Cologne respectively. If you are flying down at the Frankfurt Airport, you can easily hire a cab to Wiesbaden for 60 euros. However, trains are much cheaper and go every 15 minutes to Wiesbaden, making it a better deal for travelers.
You can buy a ticket for the S-Bahn in the train station located in the basement of the Airport. The tickets for Wiesbaden cost only 4.35 euros, making it a lot cheaper as compared to hiring a private cab.
If you’re traveling from Cologne, the high-speed ICE trains that clock up to 300 kph offer a surreal experience. However, there is only one train available, and that departs in the morning, at 6:24 AM. The journey from Cologne to Wiesbaden by ICE train takes exactly one hour. If you have an RMV ticket, you can use it avail bus travel to Wiesbaden which is also quite cheaper as compared to cab fares. Therefore, with plenty of transportation options available, you can easily reach Wiesbaden without any trouble.
Why visit?
Why would you want to miss a city that has an enchanting natural environment, refreshing and healing spa baths combined with a view that completely enamors you? Wiesbaden has a history that is way different from the other cities of Germany. It’s luxurious and enriching architecture saved it from being bombed during the Second World War and since then, it has been home to US military.
International May Festival is another major reason why you should visit the city of Wiesbaden. An annual arts festival, it is one of the most well-known international theater festivals in the world; with people from diverse parts of the world attending the event. The festival is known for exemplary performances of opera, plays, musicals and ballets. Concerts from a diverse range of music are featured, along with other events such as artistic circus, contemporary dance performances, recitals, lectures and readings also held. Therefore, if you are a performing arts lover, you cannot miss out on visiting the International May Festival.
Hence, visiting Wiesbaden will never be a decision that you will regret. Calm surroundings coupled with adventurous excitement are what Wiesbaden is known for. It is more than a beautiful church, green valley and charming gambling houses where people turn to after they have had their healing spa. Wiesbaden is a city that prides itself for its distinct past and breathtaking present. Such a city should not be missed when you make your bucket list.
Travelling in the city:
Wiesbaden is the perfect destination to head to if you are a seeker of solitude or social entertainments. If you only want to enjoy the luscious green shades of trees, head to the Holiday Park in the city center. A relaxing outing from sunrise to sunset will be ideal for a family who wish to bond together. A walk along the winding alleys of the park with your beloved will help you to pour your heart out in a relatively serene atmosphere. Numerous playgrounds for children inside the park will ensure that your kids do not go through a single boring moment.
Nature is bountiful around the beautiful city of Wiesbaden. A trip to the Taunus mountains, on a bicycle or on foot will prove to be a great decision if you plan to explore the striking landscapes from a great height. A number of spas around the mountains are there to make sure that once you are there, you feel as if heaven has descended to Earth.
Why only nature, Wiesbaden has the best places to visit if you are a shopaholic! Wilhelmstrasse and Taunustrasse are the most renowned shopping streets in the city. Located in historic buildings, there is an abundance of high-end boutiques, contemporary shopping malls, and little beautiful souvenir shops; these streets will not only give you a vivid experience of shopping to your heart’s content but also of living in a different era altogether.
Major attractions:
Museum Wiesbaden: The Museum Wiesbaden is one of the few Hessian Museums located in the region. The Museum boasts of Nassauian antiquities along with a natural history collection and an art history collection. Thousands of people visit the Wiesbaden Museum every year, making it one of the most visited places in the region.
Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden: Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden is the Hessian State Theater which holds various operas, ballets, plays, concerts on the four grand stages it boasts of. Built in 1894, the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden also hosts the annual festival called the Internationale Maifestspiele Wiesbaden. Anyone visiting Wiesbaden should definitely visit this grand theater and enjoy the events held there.
Rheingau Wine Festival: This wine festival is well known all over the world, with millions of people attending it every year. The festival is a ten-day event, held every year in August in the Wiesbaden City Hall. A total of 118 booths is used to offer the diverse range of wine types. Millions of visitors every year take this opportunity to relish the flavors of the amazing Rheingau Riesling wines. To entertain the guests, a multi-styled musical program is performed.
Kurhaus: If there is a landmark building for Wiesbaden, it is Kurhaus. Initially designed for the evening entertainment of spa visitors (music and drinks), this structure is home to a lot more entertaining events than ever before. A casino, a concert hall as well as conference rooms for meetings- Kurhaus is a pleasant place to be at, on personal and professional occasions.
Nero Bergbahn: Opened in 1888, this is a little but a monumental railway line. The most distinct feature that sets Nero Bergbahn apart is that it is the oldest ballast driven railway in the country.
Opelbad: This is a swimming pool with a view. The opelbad swimming pool was opened in 1934. Also known as “The Pool on the Hill” since one can swim while enjoying the beautiful view of the city. Open to visitors from May to September; Opelbad also boasts of a restaurant called Wagner where you can have sumptuous lunch as well as dinner.
Old Synagogue Memorial (gedenkmal): In the memory of the Judes from the city who lost their lives in the Second World War, this Synagogue was built in 2011.
Russian Orthodox Church: Situated on the way to the Nero Mountains, the five golden copulas that adorn the church make it a fascination for the eyes of a tourist. What makes it even more fascinating is the fact that gold reflects when the rays of sun fall on it. From a distance, while walking in the forest, this sight is simply breathtaking.
What else is around?
- Marktkirche Wiesbaden
- Museum Wiesbaden
- Braunstein Castle
- Rettbergsaue
- Wiesbaden City Palace
With so many places to explore and see around, Wiesbaden is a city that you can’t afford to miss. So, go ahead and plan a visit to this amazing city with your friends and family and enjoy exploring the rich cultural heritage coupled with modern arts that dot the landscape of this city. Not to forget are the International May Festival and Rheingau Wine Festival. Go ahead and visit Wiesbaden – you’ll love it!