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Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden, the capital of the German state of Hesse, has a population of around 283,000, ranking it as the 24th biggest city in Germany. Nestled along the Rhine River and at the base of the Taunus mountains, this ancient spa town possesses a rich cultural legacy and a vibrant economy that has given it a reputation as among the richest towns in the nation.

The city’s strategic location has played a significant role in shaping its growth throughout history. Comprising around 500,000 people, Wiesbaden is a component of a bigger conurbation including Mainz. Together with other big cities such as Frankfurt am MainDarmstadtOffenbach am Main, and Hanau, this urban region is becoming linked into the Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region. Comprising a population of more than 5.8 million, this area ranks as Germany’s second-largest metropolitan area, behind only the Rhine-Ruhr region.

Wiesbaden’s geographical context helps to define its distinctiveness and temperature. The larger metropolitan area stretches to the banks of the Upper Rhine; the city core is located in the vast valley of the little Salzbach stream. Wiesbaden receives a somewhat moderate temperature from this orientation as well as from the Taunus mountains’ protective embrace to the north and west. Drawing comparisons to the well-known French Riviera vacation town, such mild weather has earned the city the title “Nice of the North.”

Wiesbaden’s natural hot springs, which have shaped the city’s character for millennia, are entwined with its past. Although the Romans were the first to record the usage of these springs, spring bathing did not really take front stage in Wiesbaden’s economy and reputation throughout the late Middle Ages. With 16 bath houses by 1370—a count that had risen to 23 by 1800—the city claimed 2,239 residents. Wiesbaden’s reputation as a spa resort kept skyrocketing; by the beginning of the 20th century, the city, with 86,101 people, was drawing an amazing 126,000 tourists yearly.

Wiesbaden’s hot springs have drawn a lot of famous people throughout centuries. Literary titans like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Fyodor Dostoevsky, musical masters like Richard Wagner and Johannes Brahms, and the Danish Nobel laureate Henrik Pontoppidan all sought the restoring qualities of Wiesbaden’s waters. Beyond its medical facilities, the city’s attractiveness grew from its concentration of wealth—more billionaires than any other German metropolis of the day.

Complementing its image as a spa townWiesbaden also gained notoriety for its 19th-century gambling culture. Rivals of other famous European cities such as Bad HomburgBaden-Baden, and Monaco, the city’s casino, or Spielbank, matched those elsewhere. But this golden age of gambling was momentarily stopped in 1872 when the Prussian-dominated imperial government mandated the closing of every German casino. Wiesbaden’s casino reopened its doors not until 1949, therefore restoring the city’s connection with high-stakes entertainment.

Today, Wiesbaden firmly establishes itself as a contemporary economic powerhouse while also bearing evidence of its remarkable heritage. Among several foreign businesses such as Abbott LaboratoriesDXC TechnologyFerrariFederal-MogulMelbourne ITPorscheNorwegian Cruise Line, and SCA, the city acts as the German or European headquarters for many more. Among the German companies whose headquarters are in Wiesbaden are SGL CarbonDyckerhoffKION GroupDBV-Winterthur, and R + V Versicherung.

The “Industriepark Kalle-Albert,” a large industrial park spread in the southern section of Biebrich, is among Wiesbaden’s most important economic assets. Among Germany’s biggest parks, this one has over eighty businesses, mostly from the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Notable renters include Shin-Etsu ChemicalAgfa-GevaertClariant, and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. Chemical behemoth Hoechst AG’s founding of the park in 1997 signaled a fresh turn in Wiesbaden’s industrial growth.

Apart from its strength in the business sector, Wiesbaden is a center for significant government organizations. Along with various Hessian ministries, including the Hessian State Criminal Police Office, the city hosts the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Statistical Office of Germany. This concentration of public sector firms increases Wiesbaden’s national relevance even further.

Wiesbaden’s outstanding financial numbers show its great economic strength. Ranked second in Hesse, the city follows only the financial powerhouse of Frankfurt with a gross domestic product per inhabitant of over €77,500. This number ranks Wiesbaden among Germany’s most economically active cities. Additionally, the high €22,500 purchasing power per resident emphasizes the high standard of living that its citizens enjoy.

Euro (€) (EUR)

Currency

6AD (as a Roman fort)

Founded

+49 611

Calling code

283,083

Population

203.9 km2 (78.7 sq mi)

Area

German

Official language

115 m (377 ft)

Elevation

CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2)

Time zone

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