Charming medieval villages and stylish, international cities - Hessen offers the best of both!
Head out into Hessen's extraordinary landscapes for crystal clear air and an unforgettable adventure.
Treat yourself to a good pampering and a well earned break at one of Hessen's luxurious health spas.
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State capital: Wiesbaden Ca. 6,2 Million inhabitants
Biggest City: Frankfurt am Main with 746.878 inhabitants
The history of Hessen contains many influence; for instance, the Romans, who brought their spa traditions to the region. This is important theme for the region still today. The spa cities of Hessen maintain these traditions so that visitors to the region can take advantage of a health and spa stay. Frankfurt is a fast-developing European metropolis, but just one hour away lies unspoilt areas like the Odenwald, Taunus or Vogelsberg. From Kassel to Darmstadt and from Fulda to Wiesbaden, the cities of Hessen are unique in their cultural offerings and architecture.
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Everything that a guest expects to find in Germany, will be found in Hessen; old romantic castles, river landscapes, vineyards, half-timbered villages, a multifaced culture and great people – it is all there! The German traditions contain culinary highlights that you will also find in Hessen. The region is famous for its delicious Riesling, apple wine, and good food.
For those who want a more active holiday, the region offers various activities like hiking, biking, water sports and golf. Along the rivers flowing through Hessen like the Rhine, Main and Fulda, visitors can enjoy activities like canoeing and river cruising in wonderful natural surroundings. Hessen has many hidden pearls worth discovering.
Getting to Hessen
With its central location and excellent connections, you are almost bound to pass through Hessen as you travel across Europe. Frankfurt Airport is a major hub for international flights. And the main north-south and east-west highspeed rail routes cross in Kassel, Fulda, and Frankfurt.
River cruises pass through Hessen on the Rhine and Main rivers. Autobahnen and other fast roads put neighboring urban regions within easy reach – whether by car or using one of the many low-cost coach services.
© Hessen Agentur_Paavo Blåfield
Scenic routes of Hessen.
German Fairytale Route
For 200 years, the fairytales of brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm have accompanied generation after generation through childhood. Along the German Fairytale Route you will find towns, villages, and landscapes associated with their lives and their stories. It offers museums and festivals, guided tours, adventure parks, and castles perched on hilltops.
Step into a fairytale in Hanau, birthplace of the Brothers Grimm. Their stories are told anew every year at the Brothers Grimm Festival, held in the amphitheater at Philippsruhe Palace. Situated on Weinberg hill in Kassel, the brand-new GRIMMWELT attraction explores the many aspects of the work carried out by these two linguists, whose reputation as collectors of fairytales extends worldwide. The Kassel annotated reference copies of Grimms’ Fairytales, which are included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, are also on show here. Or why not step into the shoes of a heroic prince when you visit the Sababurg, or Sleeping Beauty’s castle, nestled in the Reinhardswald forest?
© Hessen Agentur_Paavo Blåfield
UNESCO World Heritage
Hessen’s UNESCO World Heritage sites offer a fascinating journey through time. They bear witness both to the dawn of mankind and to artistic modernity: stone monuments to cultural epochs, landscapes that have been shaped by man over the centuries, and unspoiled nature captivate today’s visitors.
UNESCO World Heritage sites in Hessen: Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch, Messel Pit Fossil Site, Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, Ancient Beech Forests of Germany, and Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe.
The Messel Pit Fossil Site documents the emergence of mammals 50 million years ago. The Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes were unable to protect the Romans against advancing Germanic tribes. At the former Benedictine Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch, the King’s Hall is a monument to one of the most influential imperial abbeys of the Carolingian era. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley combines unspoiled nature with landscapes that have been shaped by man. Hessen’s newest addition to the UNESCO World Heritage list is Wilhelmshöhe Park in Kassel, a masterpiece of landscape architecture with a cascade that is the only one of its kind in the world.
In 2011 the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park was designated part of the UNESCO World Heritage Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Ancient Beech Forests of Germany. This paradise can be explored on a network of winding trails, sections of which are accessible to people with restricted mobility. Hessen’s part of the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which extends into Bavaria and Thuringia, is not only perfect for hiking and cycling, it also lends itself to being viewed from the air. The Bergstrasse-Odenwald Geo Nature Park offers 30 different discovery trails and i spart oft he UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. The Felsenmeer in the Lautertal valley is a spectacular collection of rock formations.