Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden
/vees"bahd'n/, n.
the capital of Hesse in W Germany: health resort; mineral springs. 251,800.

* * *

City (pop., 2002 est.: 271,276), capital of Hesse, southern Germany.

It is situated on the Rhine River. The Romans fortified it in the 1st century AD; it has been noted since then for its hot saline springs. Made an imperial city in 1241, it passed to the counts of Nassau in 1255. It was capital of the duchy of Nassau from 1806 to 1866, when it passed to Prussia. After World War I it was the seat of the Rhineland Commission under French and British occupation (1918–29). In 1946 Wiesbaden became the capital of the newly created state of Hesse. It was particularly noted for its spa in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it was frequented by Johann W. von Goethe, Johannes Brahms, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It continues to be a popular resort. It has printing firms, publishing houses, and film studios, and it is noted for its Sekt (sparkling wine).

* * *

      city, capital of Hesse (Hessen) Land (state), southern Germany. It is situated on the right (east) bank of the Rhine River at the southern foot of the Taunus Mountains, west of Frankfurt am Main and north of Mainz. The settlement was known as a spa (Aquae Mattiacae) in Roman times. Its earthen fortifications (12 BC) were replaced by stone in AD 83, and a Roman wall (of which traces remain) was built about 370. The settlement subsequently became the site of a Franconian palace, and the name Wisibada (“Meadow Spring”) first appeared in 829. It was made a free imperial city in 1241, passed to the counts of Nassau in 1255, and became the capital of the principality of Nassau-Usingen in 1744. It was capital of the duchy of Nassau from 1806 until 1866, when it passed to Prussia; it then became capital of the district of Wiesbaden in Hesse-Nassau province. In 1946 Wiesbaden became the capital of the newly created Land of Hesse and incorporated Kastel, Amöneburg, and Kostheim (former right-bank suburbs of Mainz).

      Wiesbaden is a rail junction with varied industries. Important products include metal, concrete, electronics, machinery, transport equipment, and foodstuffs. There are also printing firms, publishing houses, and film studios. Wiesbaden is a wine centre, famous for its Sekt (German champagne). As a spa, Wiesbaden was especially famous in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it was frequented by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von), Johannes Brahms (Brahms, Johannes), and Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Dostoyevsky, Fyodor), as well as various royal families. Wiesbaden's more than two dozen hot saline springs and its mild climate, parklike setting, and other amenities continue to make it a popular resort and conference centre.

      Although Wiesbaden has a long history, few examples of old architecture survive, most from the Victorian period: the new town hall (1887), the Kaiser-Friedrich Baths (1913), the Greek Chapel (1855), and the castle (1840), which now houses the Land administration offices. The state theatre opened as an opera house and playhouse in 1894. The municipal museum houses an art gallery. Wiesbaden has various medical facilities, including a special rheumatism clinic and the German Diagnostic Clinic, and it is the headquarters of the Federal Statistical Office. The city also hosts an annual International Festival of Music, Ballet, and Drama (May) and is the site of a major U.S. military base. Pop. (2003 est.) 271,995.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wiesbaden — Vue aérienne de la ville …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Wiesbaden — Escudo …   Wikipedia Español

  • WIESBADEN — WIESBADEN, city in Germany. Individual Jews lived in Wiesbaden in the 14th and 15th centuries. During the 16th century the local count gave them protection against the opposition of the city. In 1620 a number of Jewish refugees arrived there but… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Wiesbaden — (hierzu der Stadtplan), Hauptstadt des gleichnamigen Regierungsbezirks und Stadtkreis in der preuß. Provinz Hessen Nassau, bis 1866 Haupt und Residenzstadt des Herzogtums Nassau, in schöner, durch mildes Klima ausgezeichneter Gegend, am Südfuß… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Wiesbaden — Wiesbaden, capital de Hesse ubicada a 30 km del centro de Fráncfort del Meno. Elegante y concurrida ciudad balneario, gracias a sus baños termales es conocida popularmente como “La Niza del Norte“. Con casi 300.000 habitantes es la segunda ciudad …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Wiesbaden — Wiesbaden, 1) Amt im Herzogthum Nassau; 20,000 Ew.; 2) Hauptstadt hier u. des Herzogthums, am Taunusgebirge u. dem Salzbache,[196] an der Taunusbahn (Frankfurt a. M. bis W.) u. der Nassauischen Staatsbahn (Rechtsrheinische Eisenbahn), von… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Wiesbaden — Wiesbaden, Hauptstadt des preuß. Reg. Bez. W. (5617 qkm, 1.007.839 E., 2 Stadt , 16 Landkreise), Stadtkreis und Kreisstadt, am Taunus, 5 km vom Rhein, (1900) 86.111 (1905: 100.955) E., Garnison, Land , Amtsgericht, Reichsbankstelle, Handels ,… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Wiesbaden — Wiesbaden. Dieses berühmte Taunusbad, welches manches Jahr 10–12,000 Kurgäste an seinen Heilquellen versammelt sieht, gehört mit zu jenen fashionablen Badeorten der vornehmen Welt, wo Luxus und Moden mit Aeskulap um die Herrschaft ringen. 15… …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

  • Wiesbaden — Wiesbaden, Hauptstadt des Herzogthums Nassau und seit 1840 auch Residenzstadt, in einer sehr angenehmen Gegend, 2 Stund. von Mainz, hat gegen 16000 E., ist einer der besuchtesten Badeplätze Europas, dessen warme, zu den alkalischen… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Wiesbaden — v. d Allemagne, cap. de la Hesse; 266 540 hab. Station thermale depuis l Antiquité. Industries …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Wiesbaden — [vēs′bäd΄ n] resort city in W Germany, on the Rhine: capital of the state of Hesse: pop. 270,000 …   English World dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”