The Most Beautiful Parks and Gardens in Hesse, Germany

Hesse is home one of the most stunning and unspoiled national parks in Germany – Kellerwald-Edersee National Park. The park comprises a massive UNESCO-listed beech forest, rare and exotic animals and birds, a sparkling lake and a landscape that is simply stunning in its diversity. You can explore the forest on foot or bike, and try a variety of sports. Don’t miss a bird’s eye view of the forest from the Baumkronenpfad Edersee tree-top walk.

Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is not only among the most beautiful parks in Germany, but in the whole of Europe. Though it took 150 years to be completed, the result was sure worth the wait. At 240 hectares, it seems endless, and throws beautiful surprises at visitors at every turn – the mock-medieval ruins of the fairy tale Löwenburg Castle simply beg to be Instagrammed. Another stunning sight in the park is the looming 526 meter (1,725 ft) Karlsberg Mountain crowned by the Hercules Monument, from which a waterfall gushes down. Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe is also known for stunning bodies of water, countless trees and the picture-perfect Teufelsbrücke (Devil’s Bridge) steeped in legends.

The city of Kassel boasts not one but two spectacular parks. Karlsaue Park is a close second to Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe in terms of beauty and serenity. This 400-acre green oasis is an ensemble of ponds, canals, flower beds, sculptures, marble baths, fountains and tree-shaded walkways. The vividly colorful flower island, Siebenbergen, is sure to inspire a photograph or three. The palace-like architecture of the Orangerie is among the most noteworthy landmarks in the park.

Palmengarten is the pride of Frankfurt, a city that proves you can be among the busiest cities in the world but still have expansive green coverage. This 147-year-old sprawling garden is punctuated by colorful flower beds and lovely playgrounds. Whether you stroll, explore aboard the nostalgic Palmengarten Express or enjoy beautiful views of the park from a paddle boat, an afternoon spent here is bound to be awesome. Grüne Schule (Green School), a special program designed for youngsters, aims to educate them about nature and its conservation.

Bethmannpark is yet another burst of color in Frankfurt. The park is at its peak beauty in spring and summer, with thousands of flowers blooming all over. The most photogenic corner of the park is the Chinese Garden. Built on the principles of Feng-Shui, this themed garden delights visitors with a dragon portal and traditional bridges and koi ponds. A lovely playground ensures that the little ones don’t feel left out either.

Neroberg is a hilltop green expanse in Wiesbaden. It is no ordinary park, but a spectacular stretch peppered with a number of landmarks, the most noteworthy being a gorgeous Russian orthodox church and cemetery, and a tempting open-air swimming pool called Opelbad. As a bonus, you can feast your eyes on an uninterrupted panorama of Wiesbaden from the Neroberg, and also go hiking or biking along exciting trails.

Biebrich Palace Gardens is a protected historic parkland that considerably adds to the charm of Biebrich Palace. Originally built as a French garden in 1817-23, today it is an English landscaped garden stretching for around 1.2 km (0.75 miles) to the north of the palace. The artificial ruins of Mosburg make up the most romantic corner of the park. Biebrich Palace Gardens is the venue for the annual Whitsun tournament of the Wiesbaden Riding and Driving Club that attracts around 50,000 visitors. From the park, you also get to enjoy lovely views of the Rhine River.