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Preserving our cultural wealth. Culture Map of … a cultural discovery tour

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RZ_Titel_Kulturkarte_engl.indd 1 03.12.2009 12:07:12 Uhr Dear Guest,

... take our suggestions for your cultural adventure through the state of Hesse. Experience the variety and contrast of the enchanting state of Hesse. Hesse´s cultural offer is also distinguished by contrast and variety. 350 , over 300 museums, impressive abbeys, attractive parks and gar- dens, picturesque half-timbered towns and fi ve UNESCO-world heritage sites – discover Hesse’s rich past and present. The vibrant theater scene from the House that has already recei- ved multiple awards to modern theater to experimental free theater is compelling. Artists and institutions in , literature, dance, fi lm and the new media, fi ne arts as well as high-quality exhibitions and festivals also invite you to come to Hesse- the range of subjects is rich and enti- cing, nurtures the mind and senses. This cultural map can provide you with a little cross section of the extensive range of cultural activities in the state of Hesse. For further information please go to the specifi ed Internet addresses. Experience culture in Hesse – We look forward to meeting you! Tip: For information on environmentally-friendly travel to Hesse go to www.bahn.de/ hessen

History, Architecture, Townscape

Hersfeld and must be added to this spectrum.

Numerous locations such as the State Archives in , and provide information on the shifting political fortunes of the state. It is especially in Hesse that history can be experienced up-close. Powerful sponsors, including Hessian dukes and electoral princes helped the historical cities achieve wealth and artistic de- velopment through trading privileges. For this reason, particularly in Hesse there is a unique variety of half-tim- bered styles of architecture, as shown Experience history by the many “half-timbered architec- ture trails” in addition to the open-air up-close “Hessenpark“.

Hesse has a rich history, but it is marked But modern architecture also has a by a strong territorial fragmentation. unique location especially in the busi- On the historical map you will also fi nd ness metropolis of . Such a areas belonging to the electorates of skyline can be found nowhere else and in addition to the ter- in . Traditional and modern ritories of Hesse and Nassau. Imperial architecture blend with each other cities such as Frankfurt am and to produce a unique cityscape. but also abbeys such as ,

For more information go to www.hessen-tourism.com UNESCO-World Heritage Sites

A Testimony to the History of Humankind and to Nature

In the state of Hesse, the pit (as a site), the Carolingian abbey of Lorsch with its famous gate house, the Upper Germanic – Raetian- and the Upper Middle Val- ley from Bingen to (as a cultu- ral landscape) have been put on the list of world heritage sites.

3 Upper Middle Rhine Valley 1 The impressive region between Lorsch Abbey with its famous “King’s Rüdesheim / Bingen and Koblenz is the Hall” that is some 1,200 years old has cultural landscape of the Upper Middle been a UNESCO-world heritage site Rhine Valley. In 2002 it was classifi ed by since 1991. Today, it is a vestige of the UNESCO in the ranks of cultural sites great architecture of the once impor- of international status. tant religious and cultural hub of the Culture, nature, history and myth in- . Founded in 760 teract with each other here, producing and endowed with privileges by Char- a fascination felt by travelers from all lemagne, Lorsch evolved rapidly into over the world. This unique symbiosis one of the most powerful abbeys in the of 2,000 years of human work against , with a powerful the backdrop of a natural landscape abbey and wealthy lands. that is millions of years old covers a It was dissolved in 1557 distance of 65 kilometers. during the Reforma- tion. 4 Saalburg Roman Fort Only the King’s Hall, Archeological Park / Limes a vestige of a Ro- The Saalburg is the only largely manesque church, reconstructed Roman fort on the the tithe barn and limes, also part of the UNESCO curtain wall as well World Heritage since 2005. The as the archeological visitor can get a taste of life in fi ndings are a witness the Roman Era as it was nearly to this former greatness. 1,800 years ago. The fort is one of the most important museums for 2 the era and offers a varied events The discovery site, the Messel pit program. The “Kaiser“, William II, near Darmstadt, is the fi rst UNESCO- had the Saalburg reconstructed on World Natural Heritage Site in Germa- the basis of archeological fi ndings – it ny. The living world as it was 47 million shows the condition it was in around years ago has been preserved in an 200 A.D. extinct volcanic lake. Almost the entire spectrum of plant and animal life from 5 I Storybook Treasures this time has been preserved in the oil One of the greatest treasures of Hesse shale of the pit. The most famous of are the fi rst editions of the “Kinder- the numerous is the Messel pre- und Hausmärchen”, fairy-tale books historic horse. Findings from the Mes- by the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm sel pit are on exhibition at the Senck- Grimm, published in 1812 and 1815. enberg Museum, Frankfurt am Main, at Grimms’ Fairy Tales have been one the Hesse State Museum in Darmstadt of the most famous books for over and at the Fossil and Local History 200 years. They have been part of the Museum in Messel. A visitor and infor- core collection at the Museum in Kas- mation center is scheduled to open in sel since 1959 and became part of the the summer of UNESCO world documentary heritage 2010. in 2005. The Kassel “Kinder- und Haus- märchen” are part of 193 documentary materials making up the “Memory of the world”.

i Information

www.-welterbe.de www.kulturportal-hessen.de www.hessen-tourism.com Castles, Parks and Gardens

Once built for princes – now open to the public

The present state of Hesse was once made up of numerous principalities, landgraviates and earldoms. Many 3 -Auerbach | palaces, castles, abbeys, parks and Fürstenlager State Park gardens which were once the seat of The landgraves and granddukes of diverse royal dynasties are now the Hesse-Darmstadt had the “Fürsten- property of the state of Hesse. The lager” built as a summer residence in Public Castles and Gardens Adminis- Auerbach around 1790. The simple, tration as well as many municipalities village-like construction is located in and societies are active in the preser- an idyllic side valley at the foothills of vation of the historical cultural assets the on the Bergstraße. The and thus, today they are often places buildings surrounding the manor house where culture is experienced actively, such as guest quarters and stables, as they have become an attractive princes’ and ladies’ buildings, guard venue for numerous music or theater and carriage buildings have been pre- festivals. served almost in their original state. They are located at the heart of a park of 42 acres where exotic plants and 1 | Monastery ruins trees are waiting to be discovered. Almost 1,300 years of Christian history are refl ected in the monastery ruins, 4 Darmstadt | from the beginning of the missionary Hunting work in 736 until today. Four churches The castle located in the district of were successively built on Darmstadt with the same name was the same site. Con- originally built as a three-winged struction of the last building for Landgrave church began in George I of Hesse-Darmstadt as from 1038. The church 1578. It is one of the few hunt- ruins are one of ing courts in Germany that has been the largest Ro- preserved. The building was used by manesque ba- the Landgrave and later Granddukes silicas north of of Hesse-Darmstadt for hunting for the and over 350 years. Today it is a Hunting are the larg- Museum. est Roman- esque church 5 Gelnhausen | ruins in the Imperial world. The Bad The Stauffer Emperor Frederick I, “Bar- Hersfeld Open-air barossa”, founded the imperial city of Theater Festival has Gelnhausen in 1170 and erected his been held yearly there Palatinate empire in 1182 before the since 1951. gates of his town – on an island in the Kinzig. Today, the entrance hall opens 2 Bad Homburg | up to the visitor with two wide arch- Landgrave’s Castle and park es and leads to the inner court which The former residence of the Landgrave leads to the three-storey palace. An of Hesse-Homburg was built on the imposing is located above location where a Medieval castle had the gate hall, defi ant and defensive been. A hallmark is the free-stand- rusticated masonry and open arcades ing from the 14th century, the of the highest degree of refi nement “White Tower”, rising over the Baroque and architectural artistic skill alternate grounds made up of two courtyards. with each other: an impressive exam- Today, art treasures from the 17th-19th ple of a Romanesque water castle. The centuries are on exhibition in the cas- ruins made of red sandstone are one tle showrooms. The magnifi cent castle of the best-preserved Palatinate build- was used by the Landgrave, the Prus- ings of the era in Central Europe. sian kings and the German Emperor as a summer residence from 1866 - 1918. The Castle Park was redesigned into a landscape garden in the 2nd half of the 18th century, preserving Baroque structures.

More recommendations overleaf. 6 | Philippsruhe Castle quarters. The Hochschloss Philippsruhe Castle was built ca. 1700 built 1545-1590 is one of the best pre- – 1725 near the Main river for the served Renaissance castles in Hesse. Hanau Count Philipp Reinhard. Two- The Baroque extension was adjusted storey building sections of the resi- to this Hochschloss and today the over- dential quarters are grouped around a all image is that of a uniform construc- cour d’honneur. Following the French tion complex. With its representative example, the country castle in Baroque interior and its Baroque garden (with style is surrounded by a castle park an orangery) the complex shows what with an orangery, belvedere, sculp- the courtly lifestyle was like. The cas- ture park and amphitheater where the tle church and castle courtyard are the Grimm Fairy Tale Open-Air Plays are stage for the castle concerts performed in summer. every year. Since 1964, the Hanau Historical Mu- seum as a regional museum for history, 10 Reinhardswald I cultural and art history has found its Sleeping Beauty Castle Sababurg home in the castle, which is open to Hidden in the Reinhardswald lies the the public all year round, with the ad- 675 year-old building which was once a ditional Paper Theater Museum as its magnifi cent hunting lodge for the Land- own special museum. grave of Hesse. The Fairy Tale Castle of the Brothers Grimm is still hospitable: 7 Kassel | kitchen and cellar invite you for a meal, Castle and Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe the tower room with the four-poster The Baroque complex with a magnifi - bed invites you on a trip to the land of cent castle, the Hercules statue and Nod. The rose collection in the castle the 250 meters-long waterfall was built garden, the fairy tale tour, “Sleeping in the early 18th century. Around the Beauty” or the SabaBurgTheater make waterfall axis an extensive, idealized every visitor a discoverer. natural landscape with waterfalls, aq- ueduct and fountain was created taking 11 Fulda I Residential castle and advantage of the natural condi- castle garden tions. Visitors can observe The stately Baroque residential castle the course of the former Fulda shows impressively that the ab- fountains through the bots of the monastery in the 18th cen- Bergpark from one sta- tury had become important princes tion to another, from and wanted to display their status ac- top to bottom from cordingly. The museum rooms, like the May 1 to October 3 banquet hall and prince’s apartments, on Wednesdays and on offer insight into the world of the era Sundays and public holi- of absolutism and are accessible, as is days. The landscape gar- the adjunct castle park, which with its den located on the slope of Baroque elements and “free accents” the Habicht forest is the largest is similar to an English landscape gar- hillside park in Europe and anchor gar- den. den of the European Garden Network. 12 Eichenzell I Fasanerie Castle 8 Seligenstadt | Monastery The most beautiful Baroque castle in The former Seligenstadt Monastery is Hesse, Fasanerie Castle in Eichenzell, one of the Medieval constructions in harbors one of the most important art Hesse that has been preserved almost collections in Hesse with its collections entirely. Built in 828 on the remains of from the Hessische Hausstiftung, and a Roman settlement, Benedict monks in its representative banquet halls shows lived here for nearly 1,000 years. The a courtly lifestyle and magnifi cently fur- monastery church, also named Ein- nished rooms. hards-Basilica after its founder, is one of the biggest Carolingian churches For more information please see: north of the Alps. The former Ben- Landesgartenschau 2010 in Bad edictine abbey with renovated abbey Nauheim: www.landesgartenschau- buildings, museums, prelate, abbey bad-nauheim.de pharmacy and the famous abbey gar- den is a magnet for visitors.

9 Weilburg | Castle and Castle Garden i Information The earls and later princes of Nassau ruled in Weilburg Castle. It rises above Verwaltung der Staatlichen the river at a length of 400 meters Schlösser und Gärten Hessen on the east fl ank of a cliff belonging to 61348 Bad Homburg the mountain range, covering Tel.: 06172 926200 nearly half of the area of the Weilburg E-Mail: [email protected] www.schloesser-hessen.de Museums

Wonder, Discovery and 7 Kassel | documenta Adventure – the Museum It has been a globally known presentation forum for con- Landscape of Hesse temporary art since the fi rst exhibition in 1955 Hesse’s exhibition locations garner and continues to be great interest with their internationally the worldwide offi cial acclaimed programs: and not only the seismograph of con- museums on the river embankment in temporary art. Every Frankfurt or the big state museums. fi ve years, a new The variety spans art museums, natural management puts its history and history museums as well as stamp on the docu- architecture and mathematics. Only a menta with its individual few examples from this wide range are artistic preferences – and listed here. reinvents it once more: documenta 13 will take place on June 9 to September 16, 2012.

1 Erbach | Collections at the Castle 8 Kassel | Museum Landscape Hesse The castle in the Odenwald, bought by Kassel the state of Hesse in 2005, harbors the Some 600 years of collecting, preserv- collections of Count Franz von Erbach- ing and organizing are the basis for the Erbach, who established a cultural Museum Landscape Hesse Kassel. The museum here 200 years ago: Classical landgrave’s and princes’ passion for sculptures, Greek vases, china, an arse- collecting, which spanned such diverse nal of weapons of the German knight- interests as astronomical studies, crafts hood, a rifl e chamber showing the or art creation of their era, brought to- development of small arms, a palatial gether art treasures preserved at their room with a collection of antlers that is historical site. It also brought important unique in Europe. European artists, mathematicians and architects to the Kassel court. The will 2 Frankfurt | Museum Embankment to represent is also expressed in the and Senckenberg Natural History historic castle and garden complexes, 5 Museum which have been managed since 2006. Frankfurt is exceptional due to the concentration of numerous renowned 9 Wiesbaden | Museum institutes along the museum embank- The Museum owes its international ment, the Museumsufer. “Museumsuf- reputation mainly to the worldwide er“ has been a registered textual-visual most important collection of works by trademark since 2008. Museums such the Russian painter Alexej von Jawlen- as the Städel, the Schirn, the sky. The focus of the art collection in Liebieghaus, the Museum addition to the latter includes instal- of Modern and Applied lations, objects, sculptures and paint- Art, the Jewish Museum, ings from the second half of the 20th the German Architecture century. The Natural History collection Museum and the Muse- comprises specimens of vertebrates um for Communication and botanical specimens in addition or World Cultures and to geological and mineralogi- the German Architecture cal fi ndings. The historic Museum and since 2008 cadre of the museum the German Film Museum are harbors the collec- located here. They receive great inter- tion of exhibits national attention due to their varied on the history exhibition policy. of Nassau; fi ndings from 6 | Mathematics Museum the Roman With over 120 exhibits, the fi rst math- era and a rich ematics interactive museum opens the natural histo- doors to the world of mathematics. ry collection In numerous experiments visitors can is presented. gain their own experiences, irregard- less of age or education level: they put together puzzles, build bridges, put their noggins to use cracking tricky i Information puzzles and problems, discover the golden section on themselves, watch a Hessischer Museumsverband e. V. ball race, stand in a huge soap bubble Kölnische Straße 44-46 and much more. 34117 Kassel Tel.: 0561/7889-6740 www.museumsverband-hessen.de

More recommendations overleaf. Imprint Published by: HA Hessen Agentur GmbH - Tourismus und Kongressmarketing, Wiesbaden, www.hessen-tourismus.de Design: HA Hessen Agentur GmbH – Tourismus und Kongressmarketing, Wiesbaden, www.hessen-tourismus.de Texts/Editing: Peter Schneckmann, Chief Editor Kulturportal Hessen, Frankfurt, www.kulturportal-hessen.de Layout: PAC Werbeagentur GmbH, Vellmar/Kassel, www.pac-werbeagentur.de Print: mww.druck und so… GmbH, Anton-Zeeh-Straße 8, 55252 Mainz-Kastel, www.mww-druck.de Picture credits: Title picture: kassel tourist GmbH • History, architecture, cityscape: View of the city of Wetzlar; Tourist-Information, Wetzlar • UNESCO- World Heritage Sites: Weltkulturdenkmal Kloster Lorsch e.V., Lorsch; Saalburg Roman Fort Archeological Park /Limes, free for advertising purposes Messel pit; Museumsverein Messel e.V., Messel • Castles, Parks and Gardens: Monastery Ruins Bad Hersfeld: free for advertising purposes; Fürstenlager Bensheim-Auerbach: Tourist Information Stadt Bensheim/Bergstraße; Gelnhausen: Main-Kinzig-Kreis, Tourismus und Marketing, Gelnhausen; Kassel: Castle and Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe; kassel tourist GmbH, Kassel • Museums: Frankfurt: Museum embankment, Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt; Kassel: documenta, kassel tourist GmbH, Kassel; Museum Wiesbaden: HA Hessen Agentur GmbH • Theater: Wiesbaden State Theater, Photo by Rainer Hackenberg; Darmstadt State Theater, Barbara Aumüller; • Music: Music Festival: Steinberger Tafelrunde, © Helmut R.Schulze; : open fl air Festival, Arbeitskreises Open Flair e.V.; • Literature: Bust of Goethe ; TOURISMUS+CONGRESS GmbH, Frankfurt am Main; Film: kinoSommer Hessen: free for advertising purposes • Culture in the region: Cultural Summer North Hesse, Photo: Thomas Rosenthal Legal Notice: The Publisher is not assuming any guarantee for the information and addresses given here. The reprint, even of excerpts, and use of sections for commercial use will require the express written consent of the publisher. The source must be specifi ed. Samples backing the source are requested. Publication was funded by house means of the Hessian Department of Economics, Transit and State Development. The present pamphlet is being published within the framework of public relations work by the government of the state of Hesse. It may not be used by political parties or campaign canvassers and campaign assistants during elections for the purpose of campaign advertising. This applies to European, Federal Parliament, State Parliament and Municipal elections. Dissemination at information booths of political parties at election events as well as the insertion or printing or pasting on of information on political parties or advertising materials is illegal. Provision of the pamphlet to third parties for the purpose of election campaign advertising is likewise illegal. Even outside of ongoing elections, the pamphlet may not be used in a way that could be regarded as a political party measure by the state government for the benefi t of specifi c political groups. The above restrictions apply irregardless of when, how and in what number this pamphlet was received by the recipient. However, the parties are permitted to use the pamphlet for the information of their own members. as per; November 2009 GrimmHeimat NordHessen A World Heritage region at the heart of Germany

Welcome to the home of the Brothers Grimm. Picturesque half-timbered houses, enchanted scenery and everywhere the footprints of the world-famous Brothers Grimm. It was here that they compiled their fairy tales that are the Germans’ most popular contribution to world culture and today are part of UNESCO Memory of the World program. Anzeige Meet the Grimms and discover the world of Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White or Mother Holle and Nordhessen = experience their tales through lectures, performances, tours, dance or theatre. Summer festivals, cultural events, Rückseite garden routes, etc. – And at the heart of all this: Kassel, Hesse’s historical capital and former royal residence, with the »World Heritage Gate North Hesse«, the famous museums and collections, the »documenta« exhibition of contemporary Kommt noch art and the landscape garden Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe with the famous Hercules monument. mal neu mit It is as though they had lived on happily ever after...

The four gates to the region are open for Anschnitt!!! you at www.grimmheimat-nordhessen.de. Our tourism portal cordially invites you to visit us at www.nordhessen.de. You can get to »Sleeping Beauty« and her romantic fairy tale castle at www.sababurg.de. Theater

Theater of all kinds at many different locations Hesse’s theater scene is very lively: from opera and classical to modern theater, from classical ballet to modern dance, from operetta, musical, cabaret, folk theater or boulevard theater to experimental free drama “Cool Plays” for kids and teens and children’s and youth theater. 2 Within the framework of a one-week The state theaters of the cities of Wies- children’s and youth theater festi- baden, Darmstadt and Kassel, as well 8 val, numerous “cool plays” are being as the state theater of Marburg and performed in spring by international the state theater in Giessen play an im- theater groups in Bad Vilbel, Dreiech, portant rôle. With the Schauspiel Eschborn, Frankfurt am Main, Hanau, Frankfurt, Opera House and Alte Oper, Offenbach and Rüsselsheim. The per- the city of Frankfurt has three major formance locations are big and small theaters. The Frankfurt Opera house theaters, community halls, urban cent- has repeatedly received an award for ers, children’s homes, churches and the best opera house of the year and schools. The one-week festival has has already won fi rst place in the critics’ been hosted since 1994. There is a award for the second time. With the supporting program with this that in- Forsythe Company, Hesse is home to cludes workshops, teacher continuing one of the internationally leading education and meetings with theater dance troupes in Hesse. Annual theat- pros. er days or festival theater hosted from spring to late autumn in all regions of Festival Theater at different locations the state supplement Hesse’s theater 9 at historical sites scene. Whether the open-air festival theater 16 at the castle in Bad Vilbel, Eppstein, Dreieichenhain, open-air performanc- Hessian Theater Days es in the castle courtyard in and The Hessian Theater Days take place during the “Rheingausummer”, castle every two years at one of the six differ- festival theater in Rauischholzhausen or ent theater cities in Hesse –Wiesbaden, International Summer Festival Theater Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Kassel, Giessen in Bensheim-Auerbach, the Castle Fes- and Marburg. The Hessian Children’s tival Theater or simply “Festival Theat- and Youth Theater Week “Watch plays- er” such as in Wetzlar and Heppen- Put on your own plays” – “Theater se- heim: all use mainly historical scenery hen-Theater spielen” – hosts perform- for a program that attracts numerous ances yearly before Easter in Marburg. guests from outside the regions. Of- ten, a classical repertoire from Shake- 1 International May Festival Theater speare to Kleist is performed, but per- and Theater Biennale in Wiesbaden formances for children have not been Founded in 1896, the May Festival forgotten either. Theater continues to put on many per- formances today. Every year, the State Brothers Grimm Festival Theater in Theater of Wiesbaden offers plays, op- 17 Hanau and Steinau era and dance of the highest degree of A varied events program is offered sophistication with international guest yearly in Hanau for adults, teenagers troupes. But also solo, song and con- and children: Over 100 performances, cert evenings as well as the “Junge a gala concert and numerous special Woche” (Young Week) with European events make up the program of the productions are part of the state capi- Jubilee Festival Theater at the cov- tal’s festival theater program. ered amphitheater in the castle park Every two years (2010) the theater bi- and other locations of the Philippsruhe ennale “NEUE STÜCKE AUS EUROPA” Castle in Hanau – of course, the works (“NEW PLAYS FROM EUROPE”) is by their namesakes are at the forefront hosted and is regarded as the largest here. international festival for European con- i temporary drama. The Steinau Puppet Theater Days 18 The Steinau Puppet Theater Days bring princesses and fairies to life also in the Brothers Grimm town of Steinau along the route where the Brothers Grimm spent their childhood. A special of- fer is the fairy tale walk.

More recommendations overleaf. Music

Paths of Life

The paths of life of historically impor- tant persons such as Spohr, Hindemith, Humperdinck or are Eberbach Abbey as well as Jazz- and linked to Hesse. Orchestras such as cabaret performances in the vineyards the Frankfurt Museum Orchestra, the of the Rheingau area. hr-Symphony Orchestra or the Young German Philharmonic Orchestra(“ 2 Eschwege | open fl air Festival Junge Deutsche Philharmonie”) offer Since 1985, every second weekend in high-quality performances. Hesse has August, the district city of Eschwege an exceptional position with regard to has become a pilgrimage destination contemporary music: the Darmstadt for festival visitors looking for that Institute for Modern Music is located somewhat different fl air: a music festi- here, offering international vacation val offering a supporting program with courses, and the Ensemble Modern and cabaret, children’s program, perform- composer Heiner Goebbels are located ances and other program highlights. in Frankfurt. The oldest The festival has been held since 1985 festival and jazz legends such as the and attracts up to 15,000 visitors per Mangeldorff brothers and the German day. Jazz Institute are internationally well- known and acclaimed. 3 Bad Hersfeld I Festival Theater and Every spring, the Music Fair attracts Opera Festival thousands of people interested in mu- Since 1951, the monastery ruins in sic to the metropolis on the Main, while Bad Hersfeld have been the venue for the Academy of Music and the Perform- theater and concert festivals belonging ing Arts or the Hoch Conservatory pro- to the largest open-air performances in vide qualifi ed music education which the German-speaking area. Every year, the Hesse State Music Council with more than 100,000 visitors from all over the Academy in Schlitz and the youth the world are attracted to the open-air orchestras as well as a large number stage by the celebrity performers. The of youth music schools have devoted program spans the works of drama in themselves to. world literature, classical concerts and Hesse and its music – that means the modern musicals. The Bad Hersfeld traditional and the modern, classical Opera Festival “Bad Hersfelder Opern- music and jazz or also the Kronberg festspiele” supplement this program. Academy and techno-guru Sven Väth. In addition to major events such as the 4 Weilburg | Castle Concerts Rheingau Music Festival, the Kassel Mu- Every year, a varied concert program sic Days, the Residential City Festival with works from all stylistic eras be- Theater in Darmstadt or the Weilburg comes an exciting experience in the castle concerts, there are yet many more historical environment of the Renais- smaller festivals throughout Hesse. sance courtyard, castle church and orangery of the Weilburg castle: per- formed by internationally renowned artists and gifted young musicians. One 1 Different Locations in the Rheingau of the highlights is the “Baroque Festi- region | Rheingau Music Festival val” organized in cooperation with the Every year it turns the entire region Frankfurt Academy of Music and into a concert stage of international the Performing Arts. status with some 150 concerts. Every year, some 120, 000 visitors experience Frankfurt | German Jazz a Summer Full of Music with big sym- Festival & more phony concerts, amongst other loca- 5 The German Jazz Festival in tions, at the magnifi cent Wiesbaden Frankfurt am Main is the old- Kurhaus, Chamber Music at the Johan- est, regularly held jazz festi- nisberg Castle, choral-symphonic ex- val in the world. In late Octo- periences in the basilica and chamber ber 2009 the Hessische orchestra concerts in the cloister of Rundfunk (Hesse Broadcasting), which hosts the festival, celebrated the 40th festival in the hr-studio. The list of musicians who have already been here as guests is like a “who is who” of jazz. But the summer concert series, “Jazz in the Palm Gardens”, “Jazz im Palmengarten” and Jazz in the Muse- um “Jazz im Museum” offer high-qual- ity music enjoyment in a special open- air atmosphere.

For more information go to www.hessen-tourism.com Literature Film

Visiting the Poets and Film in Hesse Philosophers Hesse offers everything that is the stuff Ever since the Lay of Hildebrand was of the modern fi lm industry, as glean- recorded in Fulda in 830, many famous ing the website “Film state Hesse,” names have gone down in the literary “Filmland Hessen” will reveal. With history of Hesse: from Grimmelshausen, the institutions located here such as Goethe, Büchner, the Brothers Grimm, the German Film Institute in Frankfurt Heinrich Hoffmann to modern authors and the institutions domiciled in Wies- such as Demski, Genazino, Gernhardt baden (Wiesbaden Film House, Mur- or Mosebach. nau Foundation, Cinematographic and The creative potential meets its fi - Film Culture Institute (“Institut für Kino nancial match with the German Book und Filmkultur“, the top organization Seller’s Association, the “Börsenverein in the fi lm industry and fi lm rating asso- des Deutschen Buchhandels” and the ciation) Hesse has key points of contact Frankfurt Book Fair as well as a wide in the industry. Numerous festivals fi nd fi eld of publishers. their audience: the spectrum spans the Hesse as a literature state includes inter- International Children’s Film Festival nationally connected institutions such “LUCAS”, ”goEast”, the ”dokFest“ in as the German Academy for Language Kassel down to eDIT – The Filmmaker´s and Literature, “Deutsche Akademie für Festival. Sprache und Dichtung”, the German P.E.N.-Center, the Brothers Grimm So- ciety or the Book Art Foundation. kinoSommer hessen – Literature houses in Wiesbaden, Darm- Hesse’s Film Summer stadt or Frankfurt make experiencing The cultural summer offer is intended literature possible. Festivals such as to culturally enrich the Hessian regions the Kassel Comical Colloquium, “Book and to show an attractive and sophisti- Pages-Book Ages” (“Buchseiten – cated range of fi lms at individual loca- Buchzeiten”) in Wiesbaden, the Long tions. In some places sights attractive Day of Books, “Langer Tag der Bücher“ to tourists suitable as open- and the Literature Tower “Literatur- air venues are used for turm“ in Frankfurt, the Poetry Nights, this purpose. One “Nächte der Poesie” or the Rheingau of the highlights is Literature Festival supplement this. the presentation of Eco’s “The Name of the Frankfurt Book Fair Rose “ at the The internationally most important fair original fi lming for books, media, rights and licenses location, Eber- attracts over 7,000 exhibitors from 100 bach abbey. countries, almost 300,000 visitors and some 10,000 journalists. Every year a Africa Alive specifi c guest country is the focus of in Frankfurt the fair and introduces itself with a cul- As one of the few festivals in tural supporting program. Europe, Africa Alive extensively shows contemporary African culture. The Literature Day program offers fi lms, concerts, read- The “Literature State Hesse” regu- ings, exhibitions, children’s and youth larly organizes exhibitions and events as well as political podiums. readings in cooperation with In 1996, UNESCO declared “Africa regional partners. Since 2007 Alive” as the project of the World Dec- it has been celebrating “Lite- ade for Cultural Development. In 2001, rature Day” with poet houses, the festival became the offi cial German library, archives, museums contribution to the UN-year “Dialog and schools, attracting several between Cultures “. thousand visitors every year to follow literary trails on location. Open Air Film Festival “Literary Guides” give tips on Instated in 1977, the festival has how to explore Hesse on your own. achieved cult status as the “Wood- stock of Short Films”. Films and videos Goethe-House in Frankfurt are shown here without restrictions Johann Wolfgang Goethe was born regarding genre or length. Documen- here on August 28, 1749 when the tary fi lms are also shown in addition to “clock struck twelve”. The exhibition feature fi lms. In addition to numerous on the third fl oor shows a little chrono- offers such as live music, since 1997 logy of the house and its inhabitants. there has been an audience contest The adjunct Goethe Museum is the for the Weiterstadt Film Bambi for the only painting gallery dedicated exclu- best Super 8-fi lm. sively to the Goethe era.

For more information go to www.hessen-tourism.com Culture in the Region

With four regional focuses, the Cul- tural Summer in Hesse sets a cultural course with diverse events every year from June to September. The Cultural Summer of North Hesse was estab- lished in 1988. It was followed by the fi rst Cultural Summer in 1993, South Hesse Cultural Summer in 1994 and the Cultural Summer Main- Kinzig-Fulda for the fi rst time in 2000, taking place in East Hesse. Cities, mu- nicipalities and regional initiatives com- pile an attractive program, fi nancially supported by the state government, attract a large audience. Every year, a which refl ects the regional artistic and different town hosts the festival. cultural profi le in addition to the inter- national or national stars. Future venues of the 2010 Stadtallendorf The 30+ associations are organized in 2011 Oberursel (Taunus) the State Cooperative Association for 2012 Wetzlar Cultural Initiatives and Sociocultural 2013 Vellmar Centers in Hesse, Landesarbeitsge- meinschaft der Kulturinitiativen und soziokulturellen Zentren in Hessen (LAKS Hesse). Several thousands of i Information cultural events with a range covering music and cabaret, theater and litera- For more recommendations go to ture events, presentations and large festivals, are realized by the members Kultursommer Nordhessen every year, attracting over a million www.kultursommer-nordhessen.de spectators. Kultursommer Mittelhessen The Hessentag, instated in 1961 by www.kultursommer-mittelhessen.de the governor of the state of Hesse Georg August Zinn, is an annual festi- Kultursommer Südhessen val event week and is regarded as the www.kultursommer-suedhessen.de oldest and largest state festival in the Federal Republic of Germany. Hesse Kultursommer Main-Kinzig-Fulda presents itself, invites the visitors to www.kultursommer-hessen.de gather information, and get involved in communication and cultural ex- LAKS Hessen change and celebrates with its citizens. www.laks.de Numerous regional and internationally well-known artists are a regular part of the program on the many stages and www.hessen-tourism.com

… from the prehistoric horse to punkrock, from Goethe to Poetry Slam, from Radio X to the Rheingau Music Festival, from folk theater actress Liesel Christ to the “documenta” … With Hesse’s largest Culture Calendar!