Wiesbaden, 2 hôtels

Today’s Hessian State Parliament was once the residence of the Dukes of Nassau. The former city palace was built in 1840 by the order of Duke Wilhelm von Nassau. While the building was built in the late classical style, the magnificent interior is reminiscent of classical antiquity. Opposite the State Parliament is the town hall, in which Wiesbaden City Council is located. Built in 1887, the facade was unfortunately destroyed during the Second World War and was replaced in 1951 with the current one. The rooms of the town hall are also used for exhibitions. If you want to refuel during your city tour, you will find a restaurant in the Ratskeller Cellar.

Anyone who is visiting central Wiesbaden will inevitably come across the Market Church at some point. The five towers of the imposing brick buildings overlook the palace square. At 98 metres high, the main tower makes the three-aisled basilica the highest building in the city. The construction of the church began in 1853 according to the plans of builder Carl Boos, who took a lot of criticism for his neo-Gothic design. Nevertheless, his plans were realised and the the inauguration took place in 1862. As well as church services, there are also organ concerts which take place here, all year round. Tickets can be bought online.

The magnificent Kurhaus offers the perfect setting for numerous events! Over the year, the venue hosts galas, conferences, concerts, exhibitions and lectures. The new Kurhaus was opened in 1907 with high, gilded ceilings, marble, mahogany and high columns, which adorned the magnificent interiors. After the Second World War, the Kurhaus had to be rebuilt. Since then, you can also find Wiesbaden Casino here, which is one of the oldest in Germany. In addition, twelve large halls and salons are available for events. Visitors can take part in guided tours on fixed dates.

On 16th October 1894, the State Theatre was opened by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Since then, numerous performances have taken place throughout the year in the neo-Baroque building, which was built by the Viennese architects, Fellner and Helmer. The productions range from classic pieces to contemporary literature and modern musical theatre. Opera pieces and ballet performances complete the programme. In the magnificent Kurhaus you can listen to the music of the Hessian State Orchestra or Wiesbaden’s City Choir. Over 20 new productions per season make sure you’re never bored!

Especially in summer, Neroberg Mountain is one of the highlights of Wiesbaden. You can also get there by car, but you shouldn't miss a ride on the Nerobergbahn Train. The water ballast track is now considered a technical cultural heritage site, since it started operating as far back as 25th September, 1888. Nothing about the technology has changed since then. The train runs every 15 minutes, daily from April to October. Once you’re at the summit, you should also check out the Russian Church next to the Neroberg Temple. You can see its splendid golden domes. In addition, Opelbad Restaurant and Kletterwald Forest provide plenty of fun.

Biebrich Castle is one of the most beautiful Baroque castles along the Rhein. It originally served as a garden palace. In 1703, however, it was converted into a residential palace and then served as the main residence for Nassau’s princes and dukes until 1841. Today the Hessian government uses it for representative purposes and events. The castle is set in a large estate. What’s special about the castle park: Free-roaming parrots have been living here since the 1990s and you’ll see them in the trees of the park all year round. As well as seeing the park, you should take a walk along the Rhine promenade with its numerous green spaces.

The thermal sources of Wiesbaden have a long-standing tradition. The Romans started as early as the 1st century CE with the development of them. This makes Wiesbaden one of the oldest spas in Europe today. The high point of spa culture was in 1887 with the construction of public "drinking halls", such as the Kochbrunnen Fountain on Kranzplatz Square. The competition between the individual spa hotels around the square was so high that they were forced to undertake permanent modernisation, which meant that Kranzplatz Square also developed. The oldest hotel in the square is the “Schwarze Bock”, which has been in use since the 15th century.