Bad Homburg vor der Höhe Off The Beaten Path Tips by Nemorino Top 5 Page for this destination

Hölderlin alcove in the Gothic House

Photos:
1. Hölderlin alcove in the Gothic House.
2. Books by Hölderlin and his friends, with a relief of Susette Gontard in the middle.
3. Bust of Susette Gontard.
4. Hölderlin's friend and benefactor Isaac von Sinclair.

The museum in the Gothic House includes a small but interesting display on the poet Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843).

The bust of Hölderlin's beloved Susette Gontard is a copy (the original is in the Liebieghaus in Frankfurt) of a bust by Landolin Ohmacht (1760-1834).

In the black frame next to Hölderlin's portrait is one of his best-known (and shortest) poems, Hälfte des Lebens ("Half of Life" or "At the Middle of Life"):

Mit gelben Birnen hänget
Und voll mit wilden Rosen
Das Land in den See,
Ihr holden Schwäne,
Und trunken von Küssen
Tunkt ihr das Haupt
Ins heilignüchterne Wasser.

Weh mir, wo nehm' ich, wenn
Es Winter ist, die Blumen, und wo
Den Sonnenschein,
Und Schatten der Erde?
Die Mauern stehn
Sprachlos und kalt, im Winde
Klirren die Fahnen.

Click here for a modern English translation of this poem by James Mitchell. (You have to scroll down a bit to find the translation.)

18th century printing and publishing in Hebrew

Homburg in the 18th century had not only a large Jewish community with a large and active synagogue, it also had a printing and publishing house that brought out numerous publications in Hebrew between 1710 and 1757.

There is a small display on this in the historical museum of the Gothic House.

Tannenwaldweg 102, Bad Homburg
GPS 50°14'2.47" North; 8°34'28.85" East
Location on Google Maps.

Phone: 0 61 72-3 76 18

Gotisches Haus (Gothic House)

Photos:
1. Gotisches Haus (Gothic House).
2. Displays on the history of Bad Homburg in the Gothic House.

This Gothic House was originally built in the early 19th century as a hunting lodge and vacation retreat for the Landgrave of Hessen-Homburg and his family. It is now used by the city of Bad Homburg as a history museum and a cultural venue for readings, lectures and children's concerts.

The house is located in the woods at the western edge of Bad Homburg, but it is easy to reach on the number 1 or 11 bus (last stop) -- and of course by bicycle.

When I was there they were starting some restoration work on the house and grounds, hence the bulldozer in the first photo, but the museum and cafeteria were still open.

Opening hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 14:00 to 17:00 (Wednesdays till 19:00), Sundays and most holidays from 12:00 to 18:00.

Admission is only two Euros for adults, one Euro for those who get a reduction for some reason (I didn't ask; perhaps I could have saved a Euro?). Children under 14 get in for free.

Tannenwaldweg 102, Bad Homburg
GPS 50°14'2.47" North; 8°34'28.85" East
Location on Google Maps.

Phone: 0 61 72-3 76 18

Hat Museum in the Gothic House

Photos:
1. Machine used to form hats in the 19th century
2. Hats made in Homburg

Hat making was an important industry in Bad Homburg in the 19th century, and this is documented in the Gothic House in a large museum display which they claim is unique in Germany (which I suppose it is, at least I can't think of any other).

While many of the hats on display make a decidedly foppish impression on a 21st century visitor, they were very much in fashion in the 19th, especially in a place like Bad Homburg during its period as a spa for the rich and powerful from all over the world.

Perhaps you have heard of the "Homburg" hats? Well, this is where they came from.

Tannenwaldweg 102, Bad Homburg
GPS 50°14'2.47" North; 8°34'28.85" East
Location on Google Maps.

Phone: 0 61 72-3 76 18