I don’t like to name drop, yet I’m going to anyway. But, I guess the real question to ask is, why am I about to do that?
For centuries the spa town of Bad Ems has been THE place to be for not only the German elite, nobility, and royalty; but for those who were famous and celebrated from foreign lands.
Like who?
Glad you asked.
Bad Ems has hosted the likes of Richard Wagner, King Albert of Saxony, writer Victor Hugo, King Ludwig I, Kaiser Wilhelm I, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Sir William Edward Parry (of England), Belgium’s King Leopold II, England’s King Charles I, and Russia’s Tsar Alexander II. Whew, and that’s not even the half of it!
Have you asked yourself, why have all of these creative and ruling folks made their way to this town on the Lahn River between the Taunus and the Westerwald?
Oh, sweet friends, it’s because of its curative mineral springs.
Sure, you too can soak, swim, and relax in the spas that have treated these most illustrious characters in world history. But, I’ll tell you this: If that’s all you do, you’ll be missing out on a whole lot more.
A fantastic spa experience sure is grand, but Bad Ems gives its visitors and residents the chance to golf, go horseback riding, play miniature golf, mountainbike, bicycle, hike, or park a boat at its marina.
Relaxing at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Park for a picnic is also a good idea. A quiet stroll around the Nassau Nature Park is a brilliant place for some peace & quiet.
I haven’t even gotten to the sightseeing of Bad Ems’ history yet and I’m already tired.
Bad Ems boasts mansions and even castles, like Schloss Balmoral which is now a cultural center. Then there’s Schloss Stolzenfels, Burg Lahneck, and a gorgeous former Baroque palace.
A town that’s been around since Roman times (I guess they wanted the silver deposits & there’s a Roman Tower at nearby Wintersberg) will also have its fair share of medieval sites. The Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is a good start.
Sorry, I made a boo-boo. The fortress wasn’t built until the 16th century, which is technically a full century after the Middle Ages ended. Either way, the view of Bad Ems from this vantage point is something special.
One true medieval site is the Martin Evangelical Church. It was originally a Romanesque church (very popular during the Middle Ages), but this building now is from the 18th century.
Bad Ems’ Catholic Church was built in 1661 and the Church of St. Martin (built 1866) is a right proper venue for organ and choral concerts.
There are even a few museums to see, too. Stop to see Health & City Museum, the Beatles Museum, and the town’s Mining Museum.
After you’ve visited Bad Ems you can add your name to the list of distinguished visitors. It’ll sure be nice to name drop then, wouldn’t it? ;-)
