A beautiful spa with an imperial legacy: Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden is one of the best-heeled cities in Germany: state capital of Hessen, one of the oldest and finest spa resorts in Europe and a byword for dignity, class and taste. Whether you are here to dine, stroll around or shop, you will find that everything is of the highest quality. And this also holds true for the openness and savoir-vivre of the locals.

The arts in Wiesbaden – something out of the ordinary

Wiesbaden is a vibrant and diverse city with a buzzing atmosphere, which is reflected in the broad range of theatre, art, literature and music. Every year, high-calibre ensembles descend on the Hessian State Theatre for the International May Festival and other world-class events. The city also has plenty to offer away from the big stage. Various venues put on German-style cabaret, music and improv theatre with an impressive level of originality. There is also a fine and diverse choice of museums, for example Wiesbaden Museum, which contains many fantastic collections as well as Europe's largest exhibition of works by the Russian painter Alexej von Jawlensky.

A pentagon of history: Wiesbaden's historical centre

A stroll through Wiesbaden's pentagon-shaped old quarter is always a memorable one. Starting at Schlossplatz square, you will see the oldest building in the city centre – the Old Town Hall (built 1608-1610) – and the New Town Hall (1884-1887). The dominant feature on the northern edge of the square is the palace of the dukes of Nassau, which Kaiser Wilhelm II used as a residence during his many stays in Wiesbaden. The eastern edge of the historical pentagon is marked by elegant Wilhelmstrasse, a destination for shopping and culture of the highest order. Besides exclusive shops and cafés, it is the location of the Hessian State Museum and the Nassau Art Association, which specialises in contemporary works. The Wilhelmstrasse street festival is considered to be the largest of its kind in Germany. Warmer Damm park was laid out in 1860 and lies on the eastern side of Wilhelmstrasse. Further east still sits Söhnlein Villa, which is often referred to as the 'White House' as it was built to resemble the one in Washington. The spa quarter is situated at the northern end of the street, at the heart of which is a park with two cascading fountains.

A horseshoe-shaped ensemble surrounds the spa quarter. This consists of the spa assembly rooms, the spa gardens (in the style of an English park), the spa colonnade – which at 129 metres is the longest columned hall in Europe – and the Hessian State Theatre with its theatre colonnades. The theatre opened in 1894 and still enjoys an excellent reputation. Nearby is the Kochbrunnen drinking fountain, whose health-giving waters bubble up at a temperature of 67°C. Producing some 500,000 litres per day, this is the most prolific of all the thermal springs in Wiesbaden.

First-class cuisine to round off the day in style

Outstanding food and drink is served everywhere, from the exclusive Neroberg hill overlooking the city down to the banks of the Rhine. Every taste is catered for, whether you are looking for a light Mediterranean-style snack at the end of a busy day sightseeing or a sumptuous celebratory dinner. You can choose from chic restaurants, bistros and brasseries, cosy wine and beer taverns, pubs and elegant cafés, some with the traditional ambience of a Viennese coffee house. Talking of ambience, this word could be applied to Wiesbaden in its entirety, not just its coffee houses.