Bad Homburg, 1 hôtel

Schloss Homburg, within the large castle grounds, was built in the 17th century at the behest of Landgrave Friedrich II. The castle and its grounds, which are located in the centre of Bad Homburg and open all year round, invite visitors to take a relaxing stroll or to linger in the gardens, which are modelled on the English landscaping style. Before the construction of the castle, which is built around two inner courtyards, the Medieval Hohenburg had to be reduced to its foundations. Only the 48.11 metre high Bergfried, from the 14th century, known today as the ‘White Tower’, is still standing. It is one of Bad Homburg’s best known landmarks.

The Erlöserkirche is the spa town of Bad Homburg’s main evangelical church, located on the eastern side of the castle grounds. With its Wilhelmine appearance, this imposing church, alongside the white tower of Bad Homburg’s Castle, forms an important part of the city’s skyline. Such a representation was indeed the intention of Imperial couple, Auguste Viktoria and Wilhelm II, when they commissioned the construction of the Erlöserkirche, or Church of the Redeemer. The interior of the church, which was consecrated in 1908, is designed in a neo-byzantine decorative style. The church is affectionately known as the ‘Hagia Sophia’.

Bad Homburg’s idyllic Old Town is located north of the castle park and below the Ritter-von-Marx bridge. For many years, this historic quarter was largely neglected and in the 1970’s it was threatened with demolition. Thanks to a citizens’ initiative, the Old Town with its quaint houses and meandering alleyways has been preserved, and in many cases restored. Today various little shops, cafes and cosy restaurants coax visitors in.

Roman soldiers guarded the Saalburg from the Limes border wall until around 260-270 AD. The complex was reconstructed in 1900 at the behest of Kaiser Wilhelm II and since 2005 it has formed part of the Limes UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today the Saalburg houses a museum, with ample opportunities to look, participate and experience. Numerous promotions and a varied schedule of special events take place at the Römerkastell, which is just 20 minutes’ drive from Bad Homburg, and an attractive destination for an outing. The exhibition includes original artifacts from the daily lives of the Roman soldiers, as well as staged rooms and models.

The 40 hectare Kurpark is located in the middle of the Spa Town of Bad Homburg, and is regarded as one of Germany’s biggest and most beautiful - it is even a listed building. Most of the city’s main monuments are to be found in the Kurpark, including several impressive fountains such as the Elisabethenbrunnen, whose healing springs made Bad Homburg world-famous, and the Landgrafenbrunnen, which is considered the youngest and ‘saltiest’ of the city’s healing springs. Peter Joseph Lenné (1789-1866), the Royal Prussian Horticultural Director and already celebrated during his own lifetime, was commissioned to design the English landscaped gardens. Since then, the park has been largely maintained in its original state.

With its gilded onion turret and impressive brick facade, gilded frieze and decorative tiles, the Russian church is difficult to overlook. The All Saints’ Church was built at the end of the 19th Century by Louis Benois, the architect of the Tsars, having been commissioned by the Russian Privy Councillor Alexander Proworoff, in response to the concerns of Russian Spa guests who felt the need for a Russian Orthodox Church to attend. In 1896, the foundation stone was laid, and the All Saints’ Church was consecrated three years later.

Located just 200m from Bad Homburg’s train station, close to the former site of the Horex factory, the Horex Museum is open on Wednesdays and weekends, allowing everyone - not just motorcycle enthusiasts - to immerse themselves in the history of the Horex brand. Museum visitors will learn all about the company and its heyday (from 1923-1960) and have a chance to admire exhibits featuring real motorbikes, including the legendary ‘Regina’, which you can even try sitting on. By the way: The brand name Horex was derived from a combination of the words ‘Homburg’ and ‘Rex’, the name of the local conserving glass company which supplied the starting capital for the motorcycle plant.