Wiesbaden Travel Guide

Opelbad
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Wiesbaden Overview

Wiesbaden is one of the oldest spa towns in Europe. Its name literally means meadow baths. At one time, Wiesbaden boasted 27 hot springs. Fifteen of the springs are still flowing today. The Wiesbaden municipality covers an area of 204 square kilometers. It is 17.6 kilometers (10.9 mi) from north to south and 19.7 kilometers (12.2 mi) from west to east. In the north are vast forest areas, which cover 27.4% of the urban area. In the west and east are vineyards and agricultural land, which cover 31.1% of the area. Of the municipality's 79 kilometers (49.1 mi)-long border, the Rhine makes up 10.3 kilometers (6.4 mi).

Things to See in Wiesbaden

The Schlossplatz (palace square) is situated in the center of the city, surrounded by several outstanding buildings. The ducal palace was begun under William, Duke of Nassau (Nassau vacation rentals | Nassau travel guide). Its foundations were laid in 1837 and it was completed in November 1841 (two years after William's death). For the twenty-six remaining years of ducal authority it was the residence of the ruling family. It later served as a secondary residence for the King of Prussia 1866 to 1918. It was later used as a headquarters for French and British occupying forces after World War I, then as a museum. Since 1945, the building has served as Landtag (parliamentary building) for the federal state of Hesse. The site of the palace had been that of a castle, probably from the early Middle Ages, around which the city had developed. While nothing is known of the former castle, remains of it were uncovered during excavations after World War II. The new town hall was built in 1887. Engraved in the paving in front of the town hall are the heraldic eagle of the Holy Roman Empire, the lion of Nassau, and the fleur-de-lis of Wiesbaden. The old town hall, built in 1610, is the oldest preserved building in the city center and now is used as a civil registry office. The Protestant Marktkirche (market church) was built from 1852 to 1862 in a neo-Gothic style. Its western steeple is 92 m (302 ft) in height, making the church the highest building in the city.

The monumental Neo-Classical Kurhaus (spa house) was built at the request of Kaiser Wilhelm II between 1904 and 1907. Its famous Spielbank (casino) is again in operation. In front of the Kurhaus is a lawn known as the Bowling Green. To one side of the Bowling Green is the Kurhaus Kolonnade. Built in 1827, the 129 meter structure is the longest hall in Europe supported by pillars. To the other side is the Theater Kolonnade, built in 1839. It is adjacent to the Hessian State Theater, built between 1892 and 1894.

Another building from the regency of Duke Wilhelm is the Luisenplatz, a square named for the Duke's first wife. It is surrounded by Neoclassicist buildings, and in the middle of the square is the Waterloo Obelisk, commemorating the Nassauers who died in the wars against Napoleon. Apart from the palace in the center, the ducal family had a large palace on the banks of the Rhine, known as Schloss Biebrich (Biebrich vacation rentals | Biebrich travel guide). This baroque building was erected in the first half of the 18th century. North of the city is the Neroberg. From the top of this hill it is possible to view a panorama of the city. The Nerobergbahn funicular railway connects the city with the hill. One of the three Hessian state museums, Museum Wiesbaden is located in Wiesbaden

[ source: wikipedia ]