Discover Usingen

Usingen offers a variety of attractions for a stay: historic grounds in the palace gardens, two museums with different focuses, the Taunusbad and distinctive destinations in the Usingen region. Planning requirements also vary: the exhibition in the town hall has fixed opening hours, while special guided tours are available by appointment only.

Palace Gardens and Local History

The upper section of Usingen’s palace gardens, which is open to visitors today, includes a fountain, a monument to Prince Walrad erected in 1905, and a war memorial. The palace gardens also include the adjoining rose garden and a nature playground in the upper section. The surviving grounds are near the former Usingen Palace and Palace Square. Their origins date back to the 17th century, to the time of Walrad (1635–1702), the first Prince of Nassau-Usingen.

Various recurring events take place in the palace gardens in summer. These include a family festival during the Hesse summer holidays, a summer night festival and a rose garden festival. You can check the dates if you would like to plan your stay around a specific event.

Two Museums, Different Periods

The Museum of Prehistory and Early History is located in the basement of the historic town hall. It displays archaeological finds from the Usingen region, dating from the Paleolithic Age to the Germanic period. The exhibition is open from spring to autumn every other Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Special tours for groups, including school classes, and, in exceptional cases, individuals can be arranged outside regular opening hours by appointment. Check the opening hours before making firm plans to visit.

The Usingen Town Museum in the historic Cavalier House has a different focus: it presents famous Usingen personalities, as well as historic household appliances and tools from the 17th century to around 1950. The two museums thus offer different approaches to history: the town hall focuses on archaeological finds and early periods, while the Cavalier House features notable personalities and objects from everyday life and crafts.

Rock Formations, Bathing Areas and Swimming

The Eschbach Cliffs, also known as Buchstein Rocks, are 12-meter-high rock formations in the Usingen region. They stand out against the gently rolling landscape of the Taunus Nature Park. The rocks are a prominent destination for hikers and a popular climbing spot; from there, views extend across the Usingen Basin and the Taunus. Parking is available close to the cliffs. As parking arrangements may change, check before you travel.

Another nearby destination is Hattsteinweiher, northwest of Usingen at the edge of the municipal forest. The body of water is around four meters deep and covers about 1.6 hectares. The bathing area has a designated non-swimmer section, a sunbathing lawn and a sandy beach. This makes it easy to distinguish this excursion destination from the rock formations and their hiking and climbing opportunities.

Usingen’s Taunusbad offers a different kind of swimming facility: it has a 25-meter sports pool, 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards or platforms, and starting blocks. If swimming is a focus of your stay, you can choose between the sports pool at the Taunusbad and the bathing area at Hattsteinweiher.

Events and Getting There

The Usingen Laurentius Market takes place in September. Its program includes the Laurentius fair, a general market, a countryside fair and district livestock shows. If your visit depends on this event, check the exact dates and program for your trip.

Usingen has good road connections via the A3 and A5 motorways and is connected to the Rhine-Main Transport Association rail network. You can consult the latest timetables to plan your journey. These transport links complement the range of options, from museum visits and the palace gardens to events and outdoor destinations, without implying a particular travel time.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Eschbach, Weilrod, Glashütten, Kronberg, Schmitten, Neu-Anspach, Grävenwiesbach, Oberursel.

Return to the main travel overview: Hochtaunus.