WIESBADEN
General
Information
History I
Sightseeing I
Practical I Hotels in Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is the capital of the
state of Hesse
and lies on the Rhine River, at the southern foot of the Taunus
Mountains. The city, an industrial center and a market for Rhine wines,
is one of the most famous spas of Europe.
Its 26 hot springs were already famous in
the time of Ancient Rome. Today
Wiesbaden combines the attractions of a modern conference and trade fair
venue with the old-world charm of one of the great spas of yesteryear. The spas specialise in the treatment of rheumatism.
During the middle-ages the bathing business continued to flourish. All
throught the centuries famous people visited spas in Wiesbaden :
Goethe in 1814, as well as Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Wagner, and
Johannes Brahms. To show the importance of the spa tourism : in 1900
Wiesbaden had 86.100 inhabitants but received about 126.000 visitors.
Wiesbaden is
elegant, aristocratic, spacious and friendly with numerous
restaurants and small pubs, delightful antique shops, stylish boutiques,
elegant arcades and wide open squares.The representative Kurhaus in the
Bath Quarter (Kurviertel), the Brunnenkolonnade and the Spa Park
(Kurpark) all testify to the good taste and careful planning of the
Nassau princes who made Wiesbaden their residence in the 19th century. Attractions include the Kurhaus and casino; the Wilhelmstrasse,
with elegant shops and cafés; Hesse State Theatre; the Greek
Chapel; international riding and jumping championships in the
grounds of Biebrich Palace at Whitsun; and not least the
surrounding region, with the Taunus hills and the River Rhine, with its
scenic vineyards and romantic castles.
Wiesbaden is also a centre of international
conventions : more than 500 are held here each year, along
with wonderful festivals including the explosion of goodwill that marks
the celebration of the Wilhemstrasse Festival and the annual Rheingau
wineweek, the biggest in Germany, attracting thousands of German and
foreign visitors.
