Taunus is the geographic area located mostly north of Frankfort, Germany, and is located in the state of Hessen. We first went through this area in April of 2000. We did not spend much time in the area then and vowed that we would return for a closer look. In July of 2001 we did return and spent a week in the area.

Of all the towns in the area we liked Idstein the best (right). The town of Idstein is located just east of the A3 Autobahn. Idstein is also surrounded by eleven villages which have been incorporated into the district, similar to our concept of a county in the U.S.

Pictured above is the center of town. A very nice place to enjoy lunch or a cool ice cream on a warm summer day! The town dates from 1102 and the buildings were mostly built in 16th and early 17th centuries. They are all in wonderful condition, owing to restoration and constant care. They are all beautiful examples of the half-timbered architecture. At left is the Killingerhaus, the most ornate of the old houses with lots of beautifully carved and painted woodwork. It now houses the city museum and tourist office. Next door to the right is where you can get the most wonderful ice cream creations, full of fresh fruit or flavored liqueurs (the fruit one was dinner one evening!).

The watchtower (left) that is part of the castle in town is the oldest preserved building in Idstein. They think it was built in 1355 and derives its name “witches tower” from the witch trials around 1676. At the base is a metal plaque etched with the names of the 35 women and 8 men burned here for witchcraft.

If you turn left from the location where the picture of the tower was taken you see the arch that is pictured at right about 100 meters in front of you. This was the main access to the castle and was built in 1497. Over time, the town grew and buildings were constructed outside the castle. The buildings that can be seen through the arch are located to the right of those pictured above.

If you turn right from the location where the picture of the tower was taken you see the palace that was the residence of the royal line of Nassau-Idstein which died out in 1721. The building was constructed between 1614 and 1634, incorporating many parts of the original castle. From the early 1700s the building has served several functions, the most recent of which is the Idstein Grammar School.

The surrounding country side is devoted to farming (mostly grains) and covers beautiful rolling hills with the farm land sandwiched between forests of pine as the picture below shows. The landscape is a beautiful patchwork quilt of fields in varying hues of green and gold, stitched together with leafy green. The occasional colorful village nestles in the cozy quilt and the entire scene is bordered by dense green woodlands.

Idstein is just one district in the area that encompasses Taunus. We found the area to be very beautiful - including the occasional thunder and lightning which arrived with some rain on occasion. But it is this summer rain that allows the dry farming techniques and keeps the woodlands dense and green.

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