Hessen is a big state in modern Germany that masks a remarkably dynamic cultural landscape. To the East were the Abbots of Fulda and their fiercely Catholic traditions. To the South, a global crossroads of trade arose around the mercantile city-states of the Main and Wetterau. However, to the North and the West lie dark forests and rolling hills dotted with half-timbered towns and ruined castles. For many of our favorite fairy tales, this is the land of magic and mystery.
Select a Region to Explore in Detail
Hessen
Hessen is the land in which our conception of the fairy-tale was born. The secluded forests and small villages make it easy travel back in time to a simpler age. Though the landscape is dominated by the reign of the Hessen-Kassel dynasty, traces of the medieval Empire can still be found.
Westerwald
The Westerwald is an agglomeration of regions that were largely controlled by the Nassau family and the Prince-Bishops of Trier until the end of the 19th century. Despite an illustrious history in the high Middle Ages, most of the region’s visual identity comes from the works of the Nassau family.
Wetterau
The Wetterau is characterized above all by the legacy of the Free Imperial Cities. The high level of urbanization achieved in Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, and Friedberg supported a lively competition for trade and control over the region. This somewhat small region has more to offer than what is visible at first glance.
