Hesse Archives - Europe Up Close

Rhinelandin the German Rhineland

Published/Revised June 12, 2014 By Erin Connelly This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Like the beginning of so many gothic novels, it was tragically dark and stormy on the day I trekked through the foreboding forest up to Burg Frankenstein. The thick woods shrouding the ruins and craggy hilltop isolation of the castle, not to mention its connection with stories of the undead, fuel an eerie atmosphere of suspense and mystery, which makes this an especially popular ... Read Full Article

Wiesbaden, Germany: the Spa City

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By W. Ruth Kozak This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

They say that Weisbaden, Germany is built over seven extinct volcanoes. Because of this, the city is famous for its thermal springs and spas. The earliest of these dates back to Roman times. Through the ages, spa bathing became so popular that by the 1800’s there were 23 bath houses in Wiesbaden. Famous visitors came there to bathe including Goethe, Dostoevsky, Wagner and Brahms. During my ... Read Full Article

Romping Through Rudesheim am Rhein

Published/Revised October 28, 2014 By Sascha Matuszak This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Rudesheim, Germany is known for two very special things: Wine and the Rhein (Rhine). It might not seem like much at first glance, but these two attractions have guaranteed a steady torrent of visitors to this quiet little town in the Rhein Valley. Rudesheim is located just a few train stops from Frankfurt am Main on the Rhine River, just south of the famous Lorelei Cliff (a massive rock that rises ... Read Full Article

The Local Cuisine of Frankfurt, Germany

Published/Revised August 24, 2017 By Sascha Matuszak This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Frankfurt cuisine revolves around a few dishes, without which any dining experience in the city must be considered incomplete. One of them, Gruene Sosse (Green Sauce), is an emulsion of eggs and oil with a variety of green herbs (dill, parsley, sorrel, chives and others) that was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s favorite dish. He covered potatoes and meat with the sauce and most likely ... Read Full Article