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Wiesbaden Walking Tour: Discover Europe's Oldest Spa Town With A Professional Guide

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Wiesbaden

Join a professional guide on a 1.5-hour walking tour of Wiesbaden, Europe's oldest spa town. Discover its rich history, historic spots, thermal waters, and the influence of Fyodor Dostoevsky. Don't miss the chance to explore the European headquarters of the US Army.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Kurhaus - Meet your guide in front of the Kurhaus (Spa House), constructed between 1904 and 1907 at the behest of Kaiser Wilhelm II for six million Gold marks. Part of this grand Neo-Classical edifice houses the Wiesbaden Casino, which is operational once again. Fyodor Dostoyevsky found inspiration here for his novel “The Gambler.” The Russian author lost his fortune while staying at a spa in Wiesbaden in 1865. A statue of Dostoyevsky can be found in the nearby spa gardens. Stroll along the 19th-century Kurhaus Colonnade, which, at 129 meters, is the longest pillar-supported hall in Europe. It replaced the vendors’ booths and stalls that once stood there. On the other side of the lawn, known as the “Bowling Green,” you’ll find the Theater Colonnade and the adjacent Hessian State Theatre Wiesbaden, built in 1894 and now one of the most successful German-language theatres. We take a peek into Wiesbaden’s trendiest street, Wilhelm Street, also affectionately called the “rue” by locals. This urban boulevard is one of Germany’s most elegant shopping streets. Admire the beautiful houses in the late Historicism architectural style. On Kochbrunnen Square, in the former Hotel Rose, is the Hessische Staatskanzlei, the seat of the government of the state of Hessen. Kochbrunnen, the “boiling well,” is the city’s most famous hot spring. The Romans used the thermal springs around the square as early as the first century A.D. When Wiesbaden became a fashionable spa town in the 19th century, a Trinkhalle (pump room) was built on Kranzplatz nearby, where spa guests could drink thermal water tonics. The square was largely destroyed during the bombings of 1945, but the Kochbrunnen temple and the remains of the arcades hint at its former grandeur. Wiesbaden’s oldest structure from the Roman era is the Heathens’ Wall near the Roman Gate. Dating back to 240-260 A.D., it was part of a stronghold erected by the Romans to fend off fierce Germanic tribes. Continue towards The Gold Lane and immerse yourself in the historic district called “Schiffchen” (little ship), named for its ship’s bow shape. Many goldsmiths have their studios in this area. On Palace Square, view the City Palace built for the Duke of Nassau in 1840. This relatively small city palace in late classical style is now home to the Hessian State Parliament. Also on Schlossplatz are the two city halls of Wiesbaden: the Old City Hall in Gothic style, the city’s oldest building dating back to 1610, and the New City Hall in Neo-Renaissance style from 1887, which was heavily damaged in WWII and rebuilt in a simpler form during the 1950s. The Palace Square is completed by the Neo-Gothic Marktkirche, Wiesbaden’s tallest structure at 98 meters. At its construction in 1862, this Protestant church was the largest brick building in the Duchy of Nassau. Return to Wilhelmstrasse, the “rue,” and discover the neo-classical Palace for the Heir to the Throne, erected at the beginning of the 19th century for Prince William of Nassau-Weilburg. However, the prince never lived in this palace, and today it is the seat of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. If time permits, we will take a walk on the tree-lined promenade of Warm Dam, running adjacent to Wilhelm Street. This public park in the city center borders the Spa Gardens and was created in 1861 in the style of an English landscape garden, complete with an idyllic pond.

What's Included

Private guided tour
Exclusive local guide for your group

What's Not Included

Gratuities

Additional Information

Gather at: in front of Kurhaus (Spa House), or rendezvous at hotel can be arranged if centrally located, at no additional cost

Length: 1.5 hours

Max 25 people per guide

You will gain knowledge about:
• The city’s past
• Numerous historical places in Wiesbaden
• Hot springs
• The significance of one of the most ancient spa towns in Europe, with 26
• Fyodor Dostoevsky’s immense financial setbacks at the city’s gambling tables in the 1860s, contributing to his magnum opus, The Gambler.
• Duke Adolf of Nassau
• The US Army’s European main base