Charming Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden is a green and elegant city of parks, gardens and villas. Its hot springs have brought tourists to the city since Roman times.

The Kurhaus
Wiesbaden’s Kurhaus is a major focus point at the very center of the city. With its spa assembly rooms and elegant casino, built in 1907, the Kurhaus is an imposing building which is frequently used as a venue for national and international congresses, exhibitions and cultural events. English-style spa gardens extend behind the spa assembly rooms.

Historical old quarter
Narrow winding streets lined with 18th and 19th century buildings run through Wiesbaden’s old quarter. Bäckerbrunnen fountain on Grabenstrasse is now a popular meeting place. The oldest structure in Wiesbaden is the Heidensmauer, or Heathens’ Wall, which is close to the Roman gate. 15 different springs flow into the Kochbrunnen drinking fountain and in the 19th century it was the main place in Wiesbaden to take the waters.

Perfect for shopping
The elegant Wilhelmstrasse is the place to go for exclusive and luxury goods, haute couture, jewellery, accessories for the home and many international designer brands. Taunusstrasse is at the heart of Wiesbaden’s antiques quarter where countless out-of-the-ordinary antique shops are located. The romantic passageways in the old quarter are full of boutiques offering curiosities, the nostalgic and the unusual.

Culture
As a regional capital Wiesbaden enjoys a diverse cultural scene. From the European Circus Festival, the Caligari municipal cinema, one of the most beautiful picture houses in Germany, the Wiesbaden School of Music and Art to the Women's Detective Fiction Prize, Wiesbaden covers pretty much every aspect of vibrant, innovative cutting-edge culture.

Opera, drama and ballet productions form part of the State of Hesse Theater’s comprehensive cultural offering that includes classical works as well as modern music theatre. Because all three of the theater's stages can be used simultaneously, it is not unusual for four performances to take place on one day.

Getting out of the city
Virtually the whole of Wiesbaden can be seen from Neroberg hill, which is a good starting point for longer walks. Its beautiful lawns are ideal for a picnic and it is a wonderful place to escape from everyday life. Neroberg hill is an ideal starting point for walks through the town forest and is itself an extensive recreation area.

With around 50 animal species and many rare plants, Fasanerie Zoo and Gardens is a popular day out for families.

Tours of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, leave daily from the Wiesbaden-Biebrich jetty.

Thanks: Much of the information in this article was taken from www.germany-tourism.de and www.wiesbaden.de, where you can get more information on the charming city of Wiesbaden.

Events in Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden’s many festivals and markets contribute much to its quality of life. There is surely a festival to suit everyone: more than a hundred every year in theaters, churches, museums as well as in the open air in the city’s many squares.

“Sternschnuppenmarkt”
Twinkling Star Christmas Market
The picturesque Schlossplatz forms the fascinating setting for the Wiesbaden Twinkling Star Christmas Market. Four gates decorated with twinkling stars grant access to this fairytalelike scene, where young and old will find desirable and beautiful items. Numerous culinary specialties and beverages are available to tempt you and to quench your thirst.

Choirs, nativity plays, wind quartets, concerts, storytelling and much more complete the special Christmas spirit. A further highlight is the public ice skating rink "Eiszeit" which is located at "Warmer Damm" behind the Hessian State Theater.