Germany Hesse

Frankfurt Am Main, less than 40 km from the Rhine, is first and foremost the financial center of Germany. The Frankfurt Stock Exchange, more than 400 years old, was established in 1585. Frankfurt’s modern skyline with its many skyscrapers is what gave it the moniker: "Mainhatten” which is obviously a portmanteau of the two words (Main, the river and New York’s Manhattan). These tall buildings makes for a most impressive modern “skyscraper skytline” with its own “twin towers” of the Deutsche Bank, the Eurotower etc.  Occasionally, there is a (free) Skyscraper Festival – so keep your eyes and ears open and perhaps there will be one this year or next year!

Marburg is a university town in the German state of Hessen. The University of Marburg was founded in 1527 and dominates the public life in the town to this day. Architecturally, Marburg is famous both for its medieval churches and for its castle Marburger Schloss. In particular the Elisabethkirche, an archetype of Gothic architecture in Germany. More important, however, is Marburg's status as an unspoilt, spire-dominated, castle-crowned Gothic/Renaissance city on a hill, intact because Marburg was isolated between 1600 and 1850. Parks in the town include the Old Botanical Garden, as well as the new Botanical Garden.

Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany.it has many palaces and parks, one of them the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kassel is also known for the documenta exhibitions of contemporary art. The Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe complex includes Wilhelmshöhe Palace (with the Antiquities Collection and Old Masters), the Hercules monument, and the Lions Castle. The palace is now a museum and houses an important collection of Graeco-Roman antiques and a fine gallery of paintings. It is surrounded by the beautiful Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe with many appealing sights. The complex was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

A great way to start your tour when arriving to Wiesbaden is to stop at a local café or pub and enjoy the local currywurst sausages and apfelweine, a unique wine that it is made from apples and not grapes! Tour this capital city of the State of Hesse by visiting renown landmarks, catching “Kodak moments” along the low banks of the Rhine and from the funicular as you ride up to the top of the Neroberg hills. As well you cannot leave this enchanting city without shopping on Wilhemstraße Boulevard, one of Germany’s most popular shopping streets.

located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district. In 744 Saint Sturm, a disciple of Saint Boniface, founded the Benedictine monastery of Fulda. The city went through a baroque building campaign in the 18th century, resulting in the current “Baroque City” status. This included a remodeling of Fulda Cathedral (1704–12) and of the Stadtschloss (Castle-Palace, 1707–12) by Johann Dientzenhofer. other sites include the statue of Saint Boniface (1830), Kloster Frauenberg, a Franciscan monastery and the Old University of Fulda.

Darmstadt holds the official title "City of Science" as it is a major centre of scientific institutions, universities, and high-technology companies. Darmstadt was the capital of an independent country (the Grand Duchy of Hesse) until 1871 and the capital of the German state of Hesse until 1945. It is due to its past as a capital city that it has many architectural testimonies of this period. Darmstadt has a rich tradition in modern architecture. After 1945 several "Meisterbauten" (Masterful Architectonic Creations) were built that set standards for modern architecture. These buildings still exist and are used for various public and private purposes.

Bad Karlshafen is a baroque, thermal salt spa town in the district of Kassel, in Hesse, Germany. It has 2300 inhabitants in the main ward of Bad Karlshafen, and a further 1900 in the medieval ward of Helmarshausen. It is situated at the confluence of the Diemel and Weser rivers.

Bad Homburg is a town in Hesse, Germany, on the southern slope of the Taunus, bordering among others Frankfurt am Main and Oberursel. The town is best known for its medically used mineral waters and spa (hence the prefix Bad, "bath"), and for its casino. Today, Bad Homburg is again one of the wealthiest towns in Germany, in part thanks to its vicinity near Frankfurt. As of 2004, the town's marketing slogan is Champagnerluft und Tradition (Champagne air and tradition).

Hanau is a town in Hesse, Germany. It is famous for being the birthplace of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Major Sights include : The German House of Goldsmiths (Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus), Philippsruhe Castle, Health Establishment at Hanau-Wilhelmsbad, St Mary's Church (Marienkirche) and Walloon-Dutch Church (Wallonisch-Niederländische Kirche).

Gelnhausen is a town in Hesse, Germany. According to the Institut Géographique National since 1 January 2007 the geographic centre of the European Union is exactly located on a wheat field outside the town. Barbarossa erected one castle here. There is still a medieval town center with its famous church, St. Mary Church (Marienkirche), that exhibits both romanesque and gothic architecture. Gelnhausen castle was erected at the time of Gelnhausen's foundation, southeast of the town on an island in the Kinzig River. Today it is the best preserved palatinate castle from this era, with remarkable masonry.

Hirschhorn is a small town in the Bergstraße district of Hesse, Germany, and is known as "The Pearl of the Neckar valley”. Hirschhorn is a climatic health resort situated in the Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald. Medieval Hirschhorn Castle occupies a mountain ridge above the town. In the castle, which is fortified by walls and towers, a keep, a great hall, stables and several gates and outbuildings can still be seen.

Steinau an der Straße is a town in the Main-Kinzig district, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated on the river Kinzig, The Brothers (Jacob and Wilhelm) Grimm, famous for their collection of fairy tales and forklore, lived in Steinau during their childhood. the family lived in Steinau from 1796-1805 living in a home that still stands today on Brückentor - "Die Alte Kellerei". It is one of many of the remarkable Fachwerkhaeuser - half-timbered houses - that can be found throughout the town.