Journey Through Hesse

Venturing into the shady glade of Hesse’s forests, this guide demonstrates how, in this region, dreams were made, fairytales were told, and visions were harbored. This mysterious realm of fantasy and poetry is revealed as the creation of the Brothers Grimm from Hanau—the historic pendant to the modern fairytales set in the conglomerations on the Rhine and Main and the exhibition and banking metropolis of Frankfurt, born of invention and entrepreneurship. This travel companion shows that Hesse has more medium-range hills than any other federal state in Germany, and although it shares the Rhön, Odenwald, Spessart, and Westerwald with its neighbors, the Taunus Mountains are Hesse’s alone, complete with the famous spa towns of Bad Homburg and Schlangenbad and the Vogelsberg Massif with its romantic castle town of Schlitz. This guide also explores the sunny Rheingau, its sheltered vineyards on a vast bend in the River Rhine between Mainz and Lorch providing ideal conditions for the production of very fine vintages since the days of the Romans. Showcasing this unique region in all its glorious variety, additional features also outline the architecture of the Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt, the lives and work of the Brothers Grimm, the region’s ancient wine-growing tradition, and the culinary delights of Frankfurt.