Wiesbaden

Travel times from Münster:
Train – 3 hours, 30 mins.
Car – 2 hours, 20 mins.

Advent is Wiesbaden’s star season as its Twinkling Star Christmas Market takes places in the idyllic Schlossplatz (Castle Square) alongside the historic city palace. Four entry gates, decorated with the golden lilies of the city's coat of arms lend access to this quaint fairytale scenery. Arts and crafts, some of them created while you watch, are offered at nostalgic market stands, all designed in the traditional Wiesbaden colors of blue and gold. Some of the novelties offered include gifts made from olive wood, beekeeper’s specialties, glassblowing and the world champion of confectioners. Children can enjoy merry-go-round and toy-train rides around the shimmering Christmas tree. Seasonal concerts, ice skating, carol singing, nativity plays, and fairytale tellers add to this charming atmosphere.

Wiesbaden received its descriptive name, literally “bathing in the fields,” from the Franconians in 829. Long before this group, though, the thermal waters were discovered by the Romans. Nearly 2000 years ago, Roman soldiers began to bathe in the thermal water that bubbled up through the ground. They found these steaming pools had healing effects on them, and the ancient attraction still remains. Wiesbaden’s wealthy spa, resort and casino owners can thank those stinky Roman soldiers and their inadvertent discovery while washing up in the fields for their continued popularity and profitability today.

It began to develop as a resort town in the early nineteenth century, and the European aristocracy came in droves. The presence, prestige and influence of the cultural elite helped develop an extensive calendar of cultural events (many surviving to this day) and the magnificent structures built to house them. Casinos became popular in Wiesbaden to entertain the royalty, nobility and intellectual elite between dips in the baths and it quickly became one of the leading spa destinations in Europe.

The Altstadt (Old City), once encircled by a city wall, lends itself to strolls through its narrow, twisting alleys lined with houses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Perhaps the most impressive area is the district around the “new” Kurhaus, the massive and magnificent Wilhelminian structure that opened in 1907. The neoclassical structure is awe-inspiring with its massive dome and rich adornments, also housing the ornate Spielbank. Try your luck at the famed casino, where roulette, blackjack and poker are the primary games of choice and visitors can tour or even take lessons. The adjacent Kurhaus Colonnade features a less formal gambling setting with 130 slot machines.

And, of course, you can’t leave Wiesbaden without experiencing the thermal baths as the Romans did. The Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme, erected in 1913, re-opened to the public in 1999 after extensive restorations. This historic thermal bath is heated by the Adlerquelle, a hot spring with a temperature of 66°C. It offers an Irish-Roman Bath, a fascinating contemporary sauna landscape, and a range of therapies using natural methods of treatment.
Wiesbaden’s next-door neighbor, Mainz, is just 15 minutes by car or train, making it a perfect day trip to pack in another cheerful market. Against the imposing backdrop of the Cathedral of St. Martin, Mainz’s Marktplatz (Market Square) is ablaze with light as craftsmen peddle their Christmas specialities. You’ll find unique gifts arranged in the fondly decorated stalls situated in the idyllic alleys of the Old Town. Traditional crafts, ceramics, candles, wooden toys, carvings, and more will be available to peruse. The must-see attraction at Mainz’s market is the hand-carved crèche with its life-sized figures.