Bad Homburg is an attractive and historic town north of Frankfurt, situated at the foot of the…read moreTaunus hills. The name Homburg means 'Hohenburg', and refers to the castle which dominates the upper part of the town, with its distinctive 14th-century keep, known as the White Tower. Although there has been a castle here from around the 12th century, the present (and rather more comfortable) Schloss dates mostly from the rebuilding carried out by Paul Andrich in 1678 for Landgrave Friedrich II. This originally two-storey palace was the first new addition to be built after the Thirty Years War. Both the palace and grounds were subsequently enlarged over the next two centuries, into the substantial complex we see to-day. In 1888 Kaiser Wilhelm II declared Bad Homburg's Schloss an Imperial summer residence, and construction of the huge Imperial Church next door began. His mother Victoria, the old emperor's widow (and Queen Victoria's eldest daughter) lived there for several years, and King Edward VII was also a frequent guest, enjoying the healthy pleasures of the local spa, and the more dubious pleasures of the Casino, opened in Bad Homburg in 1842. It was here that he asked a local hatmaker to make him a hat with a distinctive narrow brim which we now know as the Homburg. Although much of the palace complex is now given over to offices, one wing houses a small collection of artistic and domestic items from the 17th to the 19th centuries, and it is possible to climb the tower in summer for spectacular views. The extensive landscaped grounds and gardens are also open to the public. Opening times change according to each season see website for details.

A must-see historical landmark at Oberursel!…read more We had the fortunate opportunity to receive a tour at the Roman frontier fort at Saalburg. Overall, I highly recommend every history lover to visit this site. This historical landmark is located on Oberursel. We came here by car, by the site was also accessible by train. The landmark started off with a gift shop and an exhibit area in both German and English. It detailed the discovery of the limes, its restoration, and its inclusion into the UNESCO heritage site. We booked an English tour in advance, and our guide was extremely knowledgeable. She showed us the model rectangular fort first, and we went on to see the bunkers for the soldiers, assembly hall, and the weapnory/safety equipment for the soldiers. The most interesting part of the tour was the opportunity to handle the shield, metal vest, sword, and even try out the archery. Our guide gave us a demonstration of the bow/arrows, and we're allowed to shoot two arrows at the aim. We also trued marching formation with wooden shields and batons. The entire tour took about 2-3 hours, with about half of the outdoors. Therefore, if you come in the fall/winter time, I would recommend dressing warmly and may even bring an umbrella. This is one of the most interactive tours, and I highly recommend it to everyone!

We were looking for a castle to visit during our trip to Germany and stumbled across this one. We…read moredecided to go to this Castle primarily because of the location. The parking is free and once you arrive you go into a building which also doubles as the gift shop, pay your entry fee and then you are released onto the castle grounds. When we arrived and parked, this felt more to me like a state park rather than a tourist attraction. Which is a positive thing :-) Once inside there are several exhibits located inside various parts of the structures. You can also explore the castle grounds. The castle grounds are a decent size, but not massive like many of the other castles in Germany. Walking the castle Grounds was great for us, because the weather was not too hot, and not too cold, making it a perfect day to walk around and explore. If you are seriously into Roman history and castles, this may be an all-day activity for you. For everyone else, I would set aside between two and 3 hours, to explore this castle and the exhibits in their entirety.

Situated adjacent to the Schloss Homburg, this huge church was begun on the initiative of Kaiser…read moreWilhelm II in 1903 for the Lutheran (Protestant) congregation of the town, who used to hold their services in the Palace. It was opened in the presence of the Kasier and his wife in 1908. Designed in the Romanesque style and with four splendid 'Rhenish helm' towers, this was designed to be fit for an Emperor. The exterior appears in the standard cross-shaped plan, but the interior features a huge central cupola under the crossing, with large galleries filling the transepts, and an astonishingly wide nave, all on a cathedral-like scale. The main feature apart from its size is its breathtakingly elaborate decorative scheme of painted walls and ceilings, and spectacular mosaics. These cover the upper walls and, most notably, the apse of the Choir, depicting Christ in Majesty and the stunning golden expanse of the cupola, lit by a huge cross-shaped lantern. No expense was spared on the materials, with the extensive use of marble and stained glass windows, featuring prominent use of the German Imperial Eagle motif. Bad Homburg is noted as a town for its church organs, and a festival is held here every year. The Erlöserkirche possesses both a large, turn-of-the-20th-century Sauer organ and a new Bach organ based on a 1742 Thuringian model. The church has stunning acoustics, and is therefore a popular venue for concerts of both classical and religious music, as well as lectures. The church is also the focus for the congregation's vibrant pastoral life see website for details of services and activities.

The town of Oberursel, 15 minutes north of Frankfurt, has a delightful old town, with narrow…read morecobbled streets full of half-timbered houses, which climb to the delightful old church of St Ursula. Although there aren't many special 'sights', it nevertheless evokes images of exactly what an old German town should look like, (ie lots of half-timbered buildings with steep roofs) and is a delightful place to wander. The buildings date from the 16th century onwards, although most are 18th or early 19th century in origin. Look out for the Wenczel Welker, the former carding mill, which dates back to the 15th century. There's a small market on Saturdays, as well as a number of enticing hostelries around the edges, including the Alt-Oberursuler Brauhaus, which brews its own beers (see separate entry). The town, on the edge of the Hochtaunus hills, is easily reached from Frankfurt on either the S-bahn suburban railway to Bad Homburg (line S5) or via the U3 underground line.