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Staatspark Hanau-Wilhelmsbad
Staatspark Hanau-Wilhelmsbad
When Crown Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel initiated the construction of a bathhouse in Wilhelmsbad in 1777, he created much more than just a spa facility. Within a few years, master builder Franz Ludwig Cancrin had created a magnificent ensemble of guest houses and social venues such as the Kavalierbau, the Arkadenbau and the Komödienhaus. These buildings are lined up along a spacious promenade that divides the extensive English-style landscape garden into two areas.
Although the spa complex lost its importance after only a short time – as the springs did not have the hoped-for healing properties – it remained an attraction as the ‘crown of German spas’ (C.C.L. Hirschfeld). A special gem is the historic wooden carousel, which has been turning again on selected Sundays since 2016.
One of the park's highlights is the pseudo-medieval castle on one of the islands. While its exterior is an artificial ruin, the interior conceals the magnificent early classicist refuge of the hereditary prince. Within sight of this, a burial pyramid on another island commemorates the prince's son, who died at an early age. Today, the park, which has been a popular destination for Frankfurters since 1848 thanks to its railway connection, invites visitors to stroll around every day; the castle can be visited at weekends.