Gardens in Bad Homburg Germany September I3th 2009

I had a few extra days in Frankfurt unexpedly my flight schedule suddenly changed. So I decided to travel to interesting places around Frankfurt. I decided to visit the old spa town of Bad Homburg vor der Hohn.

The white tower( see photo) is the only remaining feature of Homburg's medieval castle,the current  schloss was built in the baroque style in the 18th and 19th century became the summer residence of the Prussian Kaisers. The last Kaiser to live there was Kaiser Wilhelm 11 who abdicated in 1917. Up until the first world war Bad Homburg
became popular with the aristocracy who came " to take the waters." The modern Kur house and park attest to
the benefits of the mineral springs.The view from the Kur House,or Cure house;looks out over the beautiful grounds of the Kur park

The grounds of the Schloss were designed in the English landscape style and are complete with a lake,a orangery,a display garden and greenhouses. Magnificent flower beds use carpet bed plants to create spectacular bedding effects.You can see how the Kaisers lived,the schloss has public tours    only available in German; Se the interior picture of one of the public rooms of the palace.

there is a restaurant where you sit inside or outside enjoying the roses.

There is a magnificent Cedar of Lebanon which you can see in the pictures at the top of this article.The greenhouses and frameyard are open to the public and large tropical plants Daturas and Crotons grace the grounds during the summer. This garden should not be missed by garden lovers.The state of Hesse keeps the palace and its grounds in an impeccible condition.See the carpet bed at the left which uses small carpet bedding plants such as alternantheras, santolina sage, Iresines, and semperviums.One bed is the shape of a peacock.

Some of the wealthiest people in Frankfurt live in Bad Homburg,but a bag lady with her cart contrasted vividly with the impressive gardens and the town's feeling of prosperity.

The day I was in Homburg it was" open doors " and I was able to visit two churches.The Erloserkirche(Church of the Redeemer) is the backdrop to the schloss gardens,it's romanesque style is only late 19th century;it's interior is byzantine(see top photo).The gothic catholic church had a display of holy hardware and vestments ( see bottom photo)and they were very hospital to visitors offering snacks and wine.

I went to discover the Kur Park  with it's fountains,lawns,beautiful beeches.and statuary. Also I discovered a Anglican church and a Russian Othodox chapel( see above) which were used in the days before the first world war.I walked through neighbourhoods of grand old houses and was particularly interested in their gates. 

As evening approached I decided to see the rest of the palace gardens. Hunger set and I had to find a restaurant. I dithered and finally found one, it was busy and had only one waitress and cook who turned out to be husband and wife.They were much relieved that I could read German menus. After a good dinner of chicken fricasse with spatzle a salad and a wheat beer I went back the the schloss( palace) gardens to have a look at the sun setting and the town's medieval fortifications
,Homburg escaped the air raids of world war Two which flattened nearby Fankfurt.
I would like to come back again another time and stay in Homburg Von der Holn to enjoy the peace and tranquility and perhaps take the waters.