WIESBADEN - Вісбаден - 비스바덴

Kampflamm · July 18th, 2010, 10:36 PM

Wiesbaden is the state capital of the German state of Hessen (Frankfurt is located in that state as well). It suffered relatively little damage during WW2 which means it's one of the few architectural gems in western Germany.

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

to be continued...

Pansori · July 19th, 2010, 01:30 AM

I guess it's a nice town. I will be in the area in about 2 weeks time. I may well pop in to Wiesbaden to have a look around.

hmueller2 · July 19th, 2010, 01:56 AM

Wiesbaden is really a nice city.
Unfortunately the most Germans don't even know that this city exists

I guess 95% of the Germans would say that Frankfurt is the capital of Hesse....

Btw:
I remeber an article I read a few years ago which was about a Chinese architect who is creating new cities in China.
Well they asked him for the "perfect city" and for some kind of a role model an he just said: Wiesbaden

Kampflamm · July 19th, 2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pansori

I guess it's a nice town. I will be in the area in about 2 weeks time. I may well pop in to Wiesbaden to have a look around.

I think the city is definitely worth a visit. When it comes to western Germany, there are hardly any major cities (say with a population of 150,000 or more) without significant war damage left. Wiesbaden is one of those exceptions and thanks to the fact that it used to be the home of the Dukes of Nassau, it has a lot of "royal" architecture as well (will post some of that later on).

Nightsky · July 19th, 2010, 11:32 AM

I was there in April this year (will post pic thread later) and I liked the city very much, one of my favourites in Germany together with Heidelberg. It is just about 30min by train from Frankfurt and even closer to Mainz so it has a really good location. It felt a bit like a "perfect city" when I was there.

Dr.Mabuse · July 19th, 2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightsky

I was there in April this year (will post pic thread later) and I liked the city very much, one of my favourites in Germany together with Heidelberg. It is just about 30min by train from Frankfurt and even closer to Mainz so it has a really good location. It felt a bit like a "perfect city" when I was there.

true, i like the city much more than franfkurt main

i like the mosaik too

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ossplatzWI.jpg

Pansori · July 19th, 2010, 03:25 PM

I guess I'll have to give it a go then.

Kampflamm · July 19th, 2010, 04:31 PM

You should.

image hosted on flickr

Huti · July 19th, 2010, 06:11 PM

Did I see (on one of the pix) an Orthodox church?

***christos-greece*** · July 19th, 2010, 06:23 PM

Wiesbaden looking great, very nice city, with a great architectur style

Kampflamm · July 19th, 2010, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huti

Did I see (on one of the pix) an Orthodox church?

Yup it was built in the 1850 by the Duke of Nassau for his deceased wife who was born in Russia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Eli...rch,_Wiesbaden

image hosted on flickr

State Parliament of Hessen:

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

Another shot of the Orthodox church:

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

Nightsky · July 20th, 2010, 12:09 AM

Too bad I missed the orthodox church, but it's located on a hill in the outskirts I think. And I toured Mainz the same day.

Kampflamm · July 20th, 2010, 10:31 AM

Yeah, the church is located on the Neroberg. Wouldn't suggest walking over to that sight.

Huti · July 20th, 2010, 03:18 PM

Kampflamm, thanks for the info, man.

And Wiesbaden is an absolutely charming city.

Turbosnail · July 20th, 2010, 03:43 PM

I lived in Wiesbaden for a year when I was 18 after a German exchange thing at school - met up with a German/American girl etc.. I can honestly say that Wiesbaden is pretty much the perfect European City. It oozes class - host to a lot of medical professionals and well off people, it has excellent cultural venues such as the Opera haus on top of a massive collection of classically architected public buildings - there are wonderful parks, open squares, great communications - the Hauptbahnhof - 40 mins to Frankfurt Airport. Great shopping - if you've got the money have a look down Kaiserstrasse, lots of expensive boutique jewellery and clothes shops. There are also always regular festivals such as fasching (or however it's spelt) and weinfestivals - it really is an exquisite city. I don't know any city in the UK that I prefer to Wiesbaden - Bath perhaps? Wiesbaden just seems more balanced, has a more functional layout with it's vast grid pattern and wide streets. Another hallmark of Wiesbaden is that it is very Americanized as it was a base for the US forces after WW2 and for me that probably injected a bit more fun into Wiesbaden.

hmueller2 · July 20th, 2010, 06:26 PM

we need more of those brilliant pics

Kampflamm · July 21st, 2010, 12:08 AM

Your wish is my command:

image hosted on flickr

Quick history lesson. The inscription reads "Loyal to the fatherland I will remain until I die" which is also part of the Dutch national anthem. The Dukes of Nassau and the Dutch royal house are closely related.

City Hall:

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

Johnor · July 21st, 2010, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kampflamm

I think the city is definitely worth a visit. When it comes to western Germany, there are hardly any major cities (say with a population of 150,000 or more) without significant war damage left. Wiesbaden is one of those exceptions and thanks to the fact that it used to be the home of the Dukes of Nassau, it has a lot of "royal" architecture as well (will post some of that later on).

How do you define west Germany? One would include cities like Regensburg and Heidelberg as well preserved western cities. One could also include Freiburg and Lubeck to as larger relative well-preserved cities. Or did you mean west-germany like Hesse and Rhineland-Pfalz?

Justme · July 21st, 2010, 10:37 AM

I have to agree that Wiesbaden is a very nice town, and I think the nicest of the larger cities in the Rhein Main metro area. Though Bad Homburg and Bad Nauheim are also quite pretty but certainly much smaller.

Despite Frankfurt and Wiesbaden being only 30minutes apart, the architecture is vastly different from each other. The central neighbourhoods around Wiesbaden seem to be built by almost palace quality apartments and Villas. Downtown itself is very nice, some nice parks, especially the kurpark behind the casino and as mentioned some lovely historical buildings.

The only thing odd about it is it's public transport. Where as Mainz and darmstadt (and of course Frankfurt as well) has a tram network, and Frankfurt also having an u-bahn network, Wiesbaden's public transport is pretty much limited to buses. The only small exception is a couple of stops on the S-bahn and regional trains stops. The main train station is also potentially a lovely building and has had nice renovations done to the waiting area, but the main shed itself is in dire condition.

I often visit Wiesbaden simply because I find it so pleasant. It would certainly be an alternative area to live in Frankfurt's metro area as I could get to Frankfurt so quickly. I'd still think of Frankfurt as downtown though ;O) It's so much larger in how it feels and when I need to get to "the city" I would head on a train pretty quickly. But that said, central Wiesbaden, smaller as it is, is actually much nicer than downtown Frankfurt visually.

Just a pity that being so close to two major rivers, actually where the River Main meets the Rhein, downtown is not on the riverfront.

But, for every downside there is an upside. If Frankfurt is considered close, Mainz, just across the Rhein is even closer. Only 10minutes by train from Hauptbahnhof to Hauptbahnhof and although similar in size and also a state capital, a complete world away from Wiesbaden in how it feels.

Justme · July 21st, 2010, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightsky

Too bad I missed the orthodox church, but it's located on a hill in the outskirts I think. And I toured Mainz the same day.

Agreed, a real pity. For anyone else visiting Wiesbaden, I certainly recommend this. Not just for the church, but the whole experience and walk.

Basically, you can walk north from downtown and you quickly reach a very upmarket and beautiful residential neighbourhood. The buildings on either side of the street are massive and stunning historical villas set up on the hills that rise on each side. Shortly, you come to yet another lovely park in the city which you walk through to the end and you reach the Nerobergbahn, a historical funicular which will whisk you up the Taunus behind. From here, in the forest, you have another park and some lovely views of Wiesbaden along with the mentioned orthodox church.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerobergbahn
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neroberg

July 19th, 2010, 01:30 AM	#2
Pansori Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London - Vilnius Posts: 6,715 Likes (Received): 476	I guess it's a nice town. I will be in the area in about 2 weeks time. I may well pop in to Wiesbaden to have a look around. __________________ Travel with me: NEW! Berlin 2013 \| Shenzhen 2011 \| Guangzhou 2011 \| EU roadtrip 2010 \| Vilnius 2011 \| Bangkok 2011 \| Alps 2011 \| Singapore 2012 \| Ho Chi Minh City 2012 \| Shanghai 2012 The ice-cold Nordic & Baltic Forum

July 19th, 2010, 11:32 AM	#5
Nightsky Illustrator Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Malmö Posts: 3,604 Likes (Received): 53	I was there in April this year (will post pic thread later) and I liked the city very much, one of my favourites in Germany together with Heidelberg. It is just about 30min by train from Frankfurt and even closer to Mainz so it has a really good location. It felt a bit like a "perfect city" when I was there. __________________ Dark as the day, light as the night Website about my travels and buildings in USA and Europe -many cool pics: http://www.worldtravelimages.net All my diagram drawings - more than 700!: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?14670510 My latest drawings: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?14670500 Last edited by Nightsky; July 19th, 2010 at 11:40 AM.

July 19th, 2010, 03:25 PM	#7
Pansori Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London - Vilnius Posts: 6,715 Likes (Received): 476	I guess I'll have to give it a go then. __________________ Travel with me: NEW! Berlin 2013 \| Shenzhen 2011 \| Guangzhou 2011 \| EU roadtrip 2010 \| Vilnius 2011 \| Bangkok 2011 \| Alps 2011 \| Singapore 2012 \| Ho Chi Minh City 2012 \| Shanghai 2012 The ice-cold Nordic & Baltic Forum

July 19th, 2010, 06:23 PM	#10
*christos-greece* Moderator! Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 73,562 Likes (Received): 5087	Wiesbaden looking great, very nice city, with a great architectur style __________________ Urban Showcase: Athens Kalamata Trikala Thessaloniki Cityscapes: Paris Barcelona Dubai, U.A.E. Monte Carlo, Monaco General photography: Castles of France - Chateau de France and, since May of '08: Greece!

July 20th, 2010, 12:09 AM	#12
Nightsky Illustrator Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Malmö Posts: 3,604 Likes (Received): 53	Too bad I missed the orthodox church, but it's located on a hill in the outskirts I think. And I toured Mainz the same day. __________________ Dark as the day, light as the night Website about my travels and buildings in USA and Europe -many cool pics: http://www.worldtravelimages.net All my diagram drawings - more than 700!: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?14670510 My latest drawings: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?14670500

July 19th, 2010, 01:56 AM	#3
hmueller2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: VIE, FRA Posts: 456 Likes (Received): 62	Wiesbaden is really a nice city. Unfortunately the most Germans don't even know that this city exists I guess 95% of the Germans would say that Frankfurt is the capital of Hesse.... Btw: I remeber an article I read a few years ago which was about a Chinese architect who is creating new cities in China. Well they asked him for the "perfect city" and for some kind of a role model an he just said: Wiesbaden

July 19th, 2010, 06:11 PM	#9
Huti Wait,... Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,708 Likes (Received): 659	Did I see (on one of the pix) an Orthodox church?

July 20th, 2010, 10:31 AM	#13
Kampflamm Tonight... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: 914 representin' Posts: 21,335 Likes (Received): 9143	Yeah, the church is located on the Neroberg. Wouldn't suggest walking over to that sight. __________________ ★ ¡El DWF unido, jamás será vencido! ★ now presenting: ANTWERP

July 20th, 2010, 03:18 PM	#14
Huti Wait,... Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,708 Likes (Received): 659	Kampflamm, thanks for the info, man. And Wiesbaden is an absolutely charming city.

July 20th, 2010, 03:43 PM	#15
Turbosnail Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,702 Likes (Received): 17	I lived in Wiesbaden for a year when I was 18 after a German exchange thing at school - met up with a German/American girl etc.. I can honestly say that Wiesbaden is pretty much the perfect European City. It oozes class - host to a lot of medical professionals and well off people, it has excellent cultural venues such as the Opera haus on top of a massive collection of classically architected public buildings - there are wonderful parks, open squares, great communications - the Hauptbahnhof - 40 mins to Frankfurt Airport. Great shopping - if you've got the money have a look down Kaiserstrasse, lots of expensive boutique jewellery and clothes shops. There are also always regular festivals such as fasching (or however it's spelt) and weinfestivals - it really is an exquisite city. I don't know any city in the UK that I prefer to Wiesbaden - Bath perhaps? Wiesbaden just seems more balanced, has a more functional layout with it's vast grid pattern and wide streets. Another hallmark of Wiesbaden is that it is very Americanized as it was a base for the US forces after WW2 and for me that probably injected a bit more fun into Wiesbaden.

July 20th, 2010, 06:26 PM	#16
hmueller2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: VIE, FRA Posts: 456 Likes (Received): 62	we need more of those brilliant pics

July 21st, 2010, 10:37 AM	#19
Justme Gotta lite? Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Woopie doo Frankfurt Posts: 4,554 Likes (Received): 11	I have to agree that Wiesbaden is a very nice town, and I think the nicest of the larger cities in the Rhein Main metro area. Though Bad Homburg and Bad Nauheim are also quite pretty but certainly much smaller. Despite Frankfurt and Wiesbaden being only 30minutes apart, the architecture is vastly different from each other. The central neighbourhoods around Wiesbaden seem to be built by almost palace quality apartments and Villas. Downtown itself is very nice, some nice parks, especially the kurpark behind the casino and as mentioned some lovely historical buildings. The only thing odd about it is it's public transport. Where as Mainz and darmstadt (and of course Frankfurt as well) has a tram network, and Frankfurt also having an u-bahn network, Wiesbaden's public transport is pretty much limited to buses. The only small exception is a couple of stops on the S-bahn and regional trains stops. The main train station is also potentially a lovely building and has had nice renovations done to the waiting area, but the main shed itself is in dire condition. I often visit Wiesbaden simply because I find it so pleasant. It would certainly be an alternative area to live in Frankfurt's metro area as I could get to Frankfurt so quickly. I'd still think of Frankfurt as downtown though ;O) It's so much larger in how it feels and when I need to get to "the city" I would head on a train pretty quickly. But that said, central Wiesbaden, smaller as it is, is actually much nicer than downtown Frankfurt visually. Just a pity that being so close to two major rivers, actually where the River Main meets the Rhein, downtown is not on the riverfront. But, for every downside there is an upside. If Frankfurt is considered close, Mainz, just across the Rhein is even closer. Only 10minutes by train from Hauptbahnhof to Hauptbahnhof and although similar in size and also a state capital, a complete world away from Wiesbaden in how it feels. __________________ I'm doing my bit to save bandwidth by deleting my signature

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