Wiesbaden

The Schlossplatz is the centre of Wiesbaden.
Buildings that surround the place include the Wiesbaden City Palace, that now houses the Hessian State Parliament and the Wiesbaden Old and New City Hall.
In its centre stands the Lion fountain and a historic traffic island decorated with three coat of arms.

The Wiesbaden City Palace was built between 1837 and 1841 as the residence of the dukes of Nassau. The plans were done by Georg Moller. The classical-style building across from the Wiesbaden City Hall and the Old City Hall has a history full of vicissitudes. Until 1866 duke Adolf of Nassau lived here. Between 1866 and 1918 it was the second domicile of the ruler of Prussia, between 1918 and 1946 it housed a military administration and a museum. It survived the Second World War largely undamaged.
In 1946 the palace was chosen to become the seat of the Hessian Federal State Parliament and today it is a symbol of public policy making in the state of Hesse. The Parliament uses both the palace itself and a complex of buildings which includes the new plenary chamber.

The neo-renaissance New City Hall was built between 1884 - 1887 by Georg von Hauberisser, who designed the Munich New City Hall as well. The facade was much more pompous than that of the neo- classical City Palace, but was damaged badly during the Second World War and rebuilt later without its dominating main pediment.

The Old City Hall from 1608 - 1610 is the oldest buidling in Wiesbaden. Originally it was build in the renaissance style, but in 1828 the upper timber frame floor was rebuilt in neo-gothic style. The original five wood carvings below the windows of the upper floor that represented the five virtues strength, justice, charity, prudence and temperance were replaced by stone reliefs.
Today the building is used as the city's register office. In the vaulted cellar that can be accessed in the middle under the external double flight staircase a wine restaurant is situated.
In 2002 the building was extensively renovated and on the backside a glazed elevator was installed.

If you are fanatic for historic equipment in a city then have a closer look. On the left side of the main facade hangs a replication of an old mail box from 1896. As it seems, those were blue at that time.

As mail is still collected by German Post as from their modern yellow mail boxes, you can leave your letters and postcards here.

At the center of the Schlossplatz (Castle Place) stands the Lion fountain.
The lion is the symbol of the dukes of Nassau and he leans his paws on the Wiesbaden coat of arms with the three lilies.

In front of the Wiesbaden City Hall is the castle place (Schlossplatz) with a historic traffic island. It was originally built in 1905 and reflects the beginning of motorisation. The Prussian Eagle, the Lion of the dukes of Nassau and the Wiesbaden lily coat of arms are layed in ornamented paving.

Evangelical main church of Wiesbaden, built by Karl Boos between 1853-62 on a site dedicated by the Duke of Nassau as a replacement for the Mauritius Church, that stood on Mauritius square but was destroyed by a fire.
The neo-gothic church was the first purely brick building in the Duchy of Nassau.

Since March 2008 the parliament of the federal state of Hesse has a new Plenary Chamber Hall in a modern architecture building designed by the Darmstadt architects Felix and Sibylle Waechter. Information about the building and construction in German: www.der-landtag-baut.de
A brochure in German from the dedication is available here.

This fountain has its name from the bakers and butchers that lived in this area and used the spring water for their businesses. The building itself was built in 1906.
Until 1975 the hot spring had a flow of 65 liter per minute at 49 °C. Since 1976 it is served by a blend of three hot springs that serves the Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme as well.
The water is considered to be healing water in terms of soaking the body in it (not here but at the Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme) or by drinking it, but the recommendation for adults is to not drink more than a liter a day without consulting a doctor. The amount of minerals in it can be read on a plate at the wall. The taste is somewhat heavy and chalybeate (iron minerals).
On a cold day it is nice to put the hands into the hot water.

The Kochbrunnen on Kochbrunnenplatz (Chef fountain square) was first mentioned around the 14th century. Here 15 springs are combined to bring 346 litre per minute of salty water to the surface.
In 1888 the small temple was built to protect the water from contamination.
Try and drink a bit of the water (but be careful, as it is very hot !!). You may not like the taste of it so much, but it is said to be a cure for sore throat and metabolism dysfunctions.

When coming down the Kranzplatz street one of the first things you will see on the Kochbrunnenplatz (Chef fountain square) is this Buddha statue.
As flowers lay in the lap of Buddha it might be in religious use.

The fountain on Mauritiusplatz was done by Meister Leonhard of the Dietz marble factory for the then Friedrichsplatz (Frederick square), today the Schillerplatz (Schiller square), where it was in use from 1822-1871.
After years in a museum depot it was reerected in 1978 as part of the rearrangement of the Mauritiusplatz.

Thanks to the valuable gift of nature, hot springs, Wiesbaden has become a spa city since ancient times. During the construction of the Kaiser-Friedrich-Bath in 1913 workers found the stone sub-structure of a Roman steam bath.
Inside the building of today the artistic furnishings and fittings, paintings, reliefs and ornaments remind one of ancient Greek and Roman times. Spa facilities include thermal baths with 37 to 42°C (98 to 108 °F), steam baths and saunas. After the heat you can cool your body in the historic cold water basin and refresh your mind in the many quiet zones with the help of music or colour changing light. Massages and drinks can be bought additionally.
Textile-free bathing is preferred and changing rooms are unisex (except showers and toilet).

The pagan wall was erected during the reign of the Roman imperator Valentinian (364-373). It is by far the oldest structure in Wiesbaden and an important late Roman monument between Rhine and limes.
In 1901/1902 the wall was partly penetrated for the construction of the Coulinstrasse. Instead a wooden construction, the so called Römertor (Roman gate) was built in 1903.

In contrast to its name the Römertor or Roman gate is a quite new gate in the remnants of the old so called pagan wall that was built in Roman times and that gave the gate its name.
The gate itself was built in 1903 during the construction of the Coulinstrasse when the old wall had to be penetrated. The then city's master builder constructed the wooden gate in a somewhat Roman style.
In 1980 the gate came into use as a bridge over the Coulinstrasse.

The publishing house of the largest Wiesbaden newspaper is situated in the Langgasse. In large capital letters the name of the Wiesbaden Kurier (WK) is carved into the stones of the facade. The second newspaper that is published here is the Wiesbaden Tageblatt.
On top of the facade gable a bonze sculpture of a man holding a book can be seen.

Wilhelm II., the last German emperor initiated and financed the new theatre building, designed by the architects Fellner and Helmer from Vienna (Austria). The opening ceremony took place on 16 October 1894 with the emperor himself being present. In 1902 the grand foyer annex by the Wiesbaden city's master builder Felix Genzmer was opened as well.
The large theatre hall offers seats for 1041 people, the small hall for 328 people and the studio for 89 people.
Since 1896 it houses the Maifestspiele - May festival. Today the festival is international and theatre companies from all over the world show their performances.

The Schiller monument by the German sculptor Joseph Uphues (1851-1911) was erected in 1905, the 100th anniversary of the death of the German poet, in front of the backside of the Hessian State theatre. This side was built like a front facing the park Warmer Damm with a double ramp.

The "Warmer Damm" was layed out as an English garden between 1860-61. The park owes its name to a part of the middle age fortification, a bank that confined a system of weirs whose basins where filled with the water from 26 hot springs. Later the name became associated with the park.
In the centre of the park, which is larger than 4.5 hectares, a large pond with a water-jet fountain is the focus of attraction. Many aquatic birds can find here a habitat throughout the year. All over the park many kinds of rare trees, modern sculptures, a monument dedicated to Friedrich Schiller and another one dedicated to the German Emperor Wilhelm I. can be seen.
The park is bordered by historical town houses and country manors, some of which are nearly 200 years old. The northern end of the park is marked by the Hessian State Theatre.

The centre of the park and also focus of attraction is a large pond. Here many aquatic birds find a habitat throughout the year.
If you have some bread you can feed the birds. The birds are used to human attraction and expect food as you will very soon realize. Show your hands as if something is on them and one of the bigger birds might approach you as closely as a couple of centimetres to see what it is.
As the ramps on the backside of the Hessian State Theatre are just for decoration, there is no entrance and people don't use it, the birds will surely waddle up the ramps.

This beautiful Art Nouveau / Jugendstil building I discovered at the corner of Coulinstrasse and Michelsberg, behind the Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme.

The building at the corner of Mauritiusplatz (Mauritius Square) and Kirchgasse (Church Alley) has a very interesting facade, depicting people from different continents and cultures.

The palace like gallery building was built around 1863 and first used as an elemantary school, later as an art school.
Since the renovation in 1989 it is used as a studio for artists and scholarship holders from all over the world that can work here and exhibit their artwork.
From time to time art workshops for children take place.

This is not a public room, but if you stay or eat or drink in the Radisson SAS Hotel, you may have the chance to see the "Ingelheimer Zimmer".
This room is famous for its unique wood carvings mainly from Italy and Northern France from the 16th century. The room was taken from the Ingelheim castle a couple of decades ago, where it was used as a dining room.

Have you ever bothered to look at Shop signs?
Here in Wiesbaden those form part of the historical street scenes and are well worth a second look. Not only the buildings itself are old and worthwhile to see, but also the small details.
These pictures are the shop signs from the Restaurant "Zum Schwejk", a Czech traditional figure. So no surprise the beer served in the restaurant is the Czech Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser/Budvar.

This shop sign is from the former restaurant "Schachtel", a legendary inn in the 80's situated at the Roman gate.

Today the inn is called "Römerbar".

The clock tower is not existing anymore but you can find traces, like the Restaurant Uhrturm that was built on its former location and a sign at the restaurant stating the fact of its former existence.
It was first mentioned in 1453 as a bell tower originally to give alarm in the case of a fire. Later in the 16th century a clockwork was installed with a clock face on two sides. In the 19th century the gap between the clock tower and the adjacent buildings, measuring a mere 3 metre, became too narrow for horse carts, so the clock tower was finally dismantled in 1873. In the same year the restaurant was opened.

This beautifully painted facade is a piece of art by Wall in Colours.

This full facade painting can be easily found as the building it is painted on is standing at the central Schlossplatz (Castle Square) beside the Old City Hall.

The MIKA cheese company is usig this old car to advertise their shop which is located in the Marktkeller (Market basement).
The car is a "Fleur de Lys" from England, so actually not an original vintage car but a reproduction.

The Bar 1486 was named after the year the hotel was founded. During the evening hours you can sip cocktails in an elegant and pleasant atmosphere. The room breathes the atmosphere of older times, slightly worn but nevertheless pompous. The famous "Ingelheimer Zimmer" is right next door and you may have the chance to see it (if asking politely). On Fridays and Saturdays they play live music from 10pm till 2am.

Note: The page was originally created on Apr 6, 2008 for Virtualtourist.com. It contributed 34 tips and 93 photos to the Wiesbaden Travel guide, was Top Rated and ranked No.2 of the Top 5 Wiesbaden Writers. The site was closed down on Feb 27, 2017.