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Hesse
Art, History & Archaeology Sites & Museums

Located in western Germany, the state is known for its many archaeological and historical sites and rich cultural traditions. These include such impressive archaeology attractions as the Celtic Oppidum at Glauberg and the Roman settlement of Saalburg. The state is also home to a number of museums and cultural institutions, including the Museum of Prehistory and the Museum of Natural History in Frankfurt. Hesse is known for its beautiful landscapes and outdoor recreation opportunities, such as hiking and cycling in the Taunus Mountains or enjoying the scenic beauty of the Rhine Valley. Additionally, there are many lively cities and towns that offer a wide range of cultural events and activities, such as theatre, music and festivals.

Archaeology & History Sites in Hesse

Iron Age statue discovered at Glauberg.

The World of the Celts in Glauberg

At the southern tip of the Glauberg archaeologists have excavated and reconstructed an Iron Age burial mound that is associated with a system of ditches and banks. Besides recovering graves with high status objects, the most remarkable find was an intact life size sandstone statue, and the remains of at least thee more. These are unique in Celtic archaeology. An onsite museum presents the extraordinary archaeology from the site. The site is located in an archaeological park. A route through the park allows visitors to see Iron Age fortifications.

Saalburg Roman Fort

The Roman fort of Saalburg, also Römerkastell Saalburg, was a frontier fortification on the Upper German Limes just northwest of Bad Homburg, Hesse. The earliest excavations were carried out in the 1850s. In 1897 Kaiser Wilhelm II ordered a reconstruction of the fort, the result a near complete reconstruction of a Roman fort. Displays in the buildings use artefacts from the fort to give an idea of life in Roman times here. There are also artefacts from nearby sites such as the exquisite gilded bronze head of a horse from Waldgrimes.

Museums & Art Galleries in Hesse

Some of the half-timber framed buildings preserved at Hessenpark.

Hessenpark Open-Air Museum

The state government of Hesse launched the Hessenpark Open-Air Museum in 1974 as a means of protecting and showcasing various historical buildings in their care. There are nearly 100 historic buildings in the open-air museum, including residential structures, windmills, a water-mill, a bakery, a village school, a blacksmiths’ workshop, a church and a synagogue, many set out in the style of an early 20th century town. Various special events take place throughout the year.

Wilhelmshöhe Palace

The 18th century Neoclassical palace was built for Landgrave Wilhelm IX of Hesse. It replaced an earlier 17th century, which itself replaced an earlier castle that had been fashioned out of a 12th century monastery. Today the palace houses an Old Masters Gallery, a collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, and a collection of over 60,000 prints and drawings. The palace is part of the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe UNESCO World Heritage site.