Townapedia
Bad-homburg-dorotheenstrasse-002
Bad-homburg-dorotheenstrasse-002 · Dontworry, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lancia Fulvia HF 1.3 (no 30), Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2025, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe (P1033094)
Lancia Fulvia HF 1.3 (no 30), Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2025, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe (P1033094) · Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bleibeskopf 76
Bleibeskopf 76 · Leipold, Marc, Public domain
Heidetränk Oppidum old Celtic oppidum
Heidetränk Oppidum old Celtic oppidum · Leonhard Lenz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hessenpark-weinberg+rhein-main-001
Hessenpark-weinberg+rhein-main-001 · Dontworry, CC BY-SA 3.0
Nida Heddernheim Toepferoefen1
Nida Heddernheim Toepferoefen1 · Haselburg-müller, CC BY-SA 3.0

Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany

Bad Homburg vor der Höhe is a town of 51,859 people in Hesse, Germany.

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Population51,859 GeoNames
RegionHesse
Elevation194 m 636 ft
Time zoneEurope/Berlin
Land area51.1 km² 1,014 people per km²
Nearest airportFrankfurt Airport (FRA) 23 km
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Why visit Bad Homburg vor der Höhe

Townapedia lists 65 museums and landmarks, 48 parks and trails, 241 places to eat, 34 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Ellerhöhturm, Kinopolis Bad Homburg, Central Garage and Heimatmuseum Seulberg.

About Bad Homburg vor der Höhe

Bad Homburg vor der Höhe (German pronunciation: [baːt ˈhɔmbʊʁk foːɐ̯ deːɐ̯ ˈhøːə] , lit. 'Bad Homburg before the Height') is the district town of the Hochtaunuskreis, Hesse, Germany, on the southern slope of the Taunus mountains. Bad Homburg is part of the Frankfurt Rhein-Main urban area. The town's official name is Bad Homburg v.d.Höhe, which distinguishes it from other places named Homburg.

From the Wikipedia article Bad Homburg (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Bad Homburg vor der Höhe on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Photos of Bad Homburg vor der Höhe

Things to do9

Ellerhöhturm

Scenic view · 1.2 km

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Kinopolis Bad Homburg

Cinema and theater · 0.7 km

1 Basler Straße, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe

Mo-Fr 15:00-21:00; Sa,Su 13:00-21:00

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Köhlerberg

Scenic view · 1.8 km

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Kurtheater

Cinema and theater

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Bluebox Portstraße

Cinema and theater · 3.7 km

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An'nettes Hoflädchen

Farm and orchard · 3.2 km

Gemüseverkauf mit Vertrauenskasse; Nudeln, Marmelade, Soße, Wurst/Fleisch aus dem Automaten

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Deutsches Äppelwoi Theater

Cinema and theater

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Historischer Kurpark Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe

Scenic view

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Kulturzentrum Englische Kirche

Cinema and theater

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Museums and landmarks65

Central Garage

Museum · 1.7 km

5 Niederstedter Weg, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe

We-Su 12:00-16:30; Mo,Tu,PH off

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +49 6172 5976057

Heimatmuseum Seulberg

Museum · 3.0 km

44-46 Alt Seulberg, Friedrichsdorf

We,Th 09:00-13:00; Su 14:00-17:00; PH off

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Chatelet am Römerbrunnen (ehem. Molkenanstalt)

Monument and historic site

27 Kisseleffstraße, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe

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Philipp-Reis-Haus

Museum · 3.8 km

93 Hugenottenstraße, Friedrichsdorf

Tu,Th 10:00-17:00; Su[1] 14:00-17:00

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Spielbank Bad Homburg

Monument and historic site · 0.6 km

Su-Th 14:30-03:00, Fr,Sa 14:30-04:00

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Bleibeskopf

Monument and historic site · 6.1 km

Mountain

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Heidetrank Oppidum

Monument and historic site · 6.9 km

Celtic oppidum near Oberursel in the Taunus in Germany

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Hessenpark

Museum · 8.2 km

Open-air museum in Neu-Anspach, Germany

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Nida

Monument and historic site · 8.2 km

Ancient Roman town in the northwestern suburbs of Frankfurt, Germany

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Gonzenheimer Museum im Kitzenhof

Museum · 1.8 km

4 Am Kitzenhof, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe

Su 15:00-17:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 6172 450134

Galerie Artlantis

Museum · 3.1 km

6 Tannenwaldweg, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe

Fr 15:00-18:00; Sa,Su,PH 11:00-18:00 "nur während der Ausstellungszeiten"

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Parks, trails and playgrounds48

Seedammbad

Sports field and stadium · 1.4 km

7 Seedammweg

Tu-Fr 07:00-20:30; Sa-Su 08:00-20:00

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Freibad Friedrichsdorf

Sports field and stadium · 3.7 km

1 Dr.-Friedrich-Neiß-Straße, Friedrichsdorf

May-Sep PH,Tu-Su 08:00-20:00

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Roßkopf (Taunus)

Park · 7.1 km

Mountain in Hesse, Germany

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Kirdorfer Feld bei Bad Homburg

Hiking and trails · 2.8 km

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Schlosspark

Park · 0.7 km

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An der Bleiche

Park · 3.7 km

24/7

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Freiligrathstraße

Playground · 3.4 km

Mo-Su 08:00-20:00

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Spielplatz Am Hirschsprung

Playground · 2.0 km

Mo-Su 07:00-21:00

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Spielplatz An den Steckengärten

Playground · 3.0 km

Mo-Su 08:00-20:00

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Spielplatz Furtweg

Playground · 3.8 km

Mo-Su 08:00-20:00

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36 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes241

Luna y Sol

Restaurant · Spanish · 0.6 km

Tapasbar y Cerveceria

114 Louisenstraße, Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe

Mo-Fr 12:00-14:30, Mo-Fr 17:00-23:00, Sa 12:00-24:00, Su 12:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 6172 171617

Pizza Lui

Restaurant · Italian, Indian · 0.7 km

No hot drinks, no alcoholic drinks

128 Louisenstraße, Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe

Mo-Fr 11:00-14:30,17:00-23:00; Sa,Su 12:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 6172 9181666

Barg

Restaurant · Persian · 0.7 km

2 Am Bahnhof, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe

Mo-We 17:00-24:00, Th 17:00-01:00, Fr 17:00-02:00, Sa 15:00-02:00,...

Open in Google Maps · +49 171 5379355

Passions Restaurant & Events

Restaurant · Mediterranean, German, Regional · 3.1 km

Mediterranes Casual-Dining am Royal Homburger Golf Club mit Panoramaterrasse und Kaminzimmer für private Feiern und Firmenevents bis 100 Gäste

10 An der Karlsbrücke, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe

Tu-Su 12:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 6172 7328727

Villa Fantastica

Restaurant · Italian

Osteria Villa Fantastica

45 Kaiser-Friedrich-Promenade, Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe

Tu-Sa 12:00-15:00,18:00-23:30

Open in Google Maps · +49 6172 9214570

Alt-Oberurseler Brauhaus

Restaurant · Regional · 3.9 km

13 Ackergasse, Oberursel (Taunus)

Mo-Th 11:00-24:00, Fr,Sa 11:00-01:00, Su 11:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 6171 54370

Bangkok Streetfood

Restaurant · Thai · 2.8 km

12 Industriestraße, Oberursel (Taunus)

Mo-Su,PH 11:00-22:00; Dec 24-25 off; Dec 31-Jan 01 off

Open in Google Maps · +49 6172 8588437

Bäckerei Moos

Bakery · 3.6 km

71 Hugenottenstraße, Friedrichsdorf

Mo-Fr 06:30-18:30; Sa 06:30-13:30; Su 08:00-17:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 6172 78243

Cafe Extrablatt

Cafe · Coffee Shop

15-17 Louisenstraße, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe

Mo-Su 09:00-23:30

Open in Google Maps · +49 6172 8981385

Café Klatsch

Cafe · German

107 Louisenstraße, Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe

Mo-Su 09:00-19:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 6172 682255

Casa Primavera

Restaurant · Italian · 3.4 km

41 Oberstedter Straße, Oberursel (Taunus)

Tu-Fr 11:30-14:30,17:30-22:00; Sa 17:30-22:00; Su 11:30-14:30,17:30-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 61712845490

Crown of India

Restaurant · Indian · 3.9 km

10 Vorstadt, Oberursel (Taunus)

Mo-Su 11:00-22:30

Open in Google Maps · +49 6171 9199771

229 more on the map.

History

Local tradition holds that Bad Homburg's documented history began with the mention of the Villa Tidenheim in the Lorsch codex, associated with the year 782. This Villa Tidenheim was equated with the historic city center, which is called Dietigheim. The local historian Rüdiger Kurth has questioned this traditional story based on his study of written sources and local factors.

In 2002, Kurth initiated archaeological excavations by the University of Frankfurt, managed by Professor Joachim Henning. The excavations showed no evidence of settlement between the beginning of the Christian Era and the 13th century. The historical record in the Eberbach chronicles (Eberbacher Zeugenreihe), which mentions Wortwin (or Ortwin) von Hohenberch as Homburg's founder about 1180, is the first solid evidence of the town's existence.

As early as 1962, in an excavation under the Hirschgang wing of Bad Homburg Castle, two burnt layers were discovered, which the archaeologist Günther Binding interpreted as evidence of two former castles having occupied the site in succession and burnt down.

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Further digs by the University of Frankfurt at Bad Homburg Castle in April 2006, again initiated by Kurth and managed by Prof. Henning, revealed only a single burnt layer, from a half-timbered building, possibly a castle with towers, which was dated from ceramic finds to the 12th or 13th century. Most likely this building had an association with Wortwin's "castle". A further cultural layer from an even earlier time may lie beneath these remains. Investigations using carbon-14 dating and micromorphological analysis will show whether the dating can be made more precise.

Homberg acquired market rights about 1330, but the document granting these rights is said to have been lost.

The town's name, "Homburg", is derived from the Hohenberg Castle. The suffix "vor der Höhe" was probably first recorded in a document of 1399. The designation Bad was conferred in 1912.

In 1622, Homburg became the capital of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg. The first landgrave of Hessen-Homburg was Friedrich I of Hessen-Homburg. Friedrich II (1680–1708) attained fame as Prince of Homburg. In 1866, as a result of the Austro-Prussian War, Homburg became Prussian territory.

With the beginning of the spa industry in the town in the mid-19th century, Homburg became an internationally famous spa town. Bad Homburg was favoured particularly by Russian nobility.

The spa industry began with the discovery of the Elisabethenbrunnen ("Princess Elizabeth's spring") in 1834. The first spa building and the first casino in Homburg were built in 1841–1842 by the brothers François (1806–1877) and Louis Blanc (1806–1852), who later owned the Monte Carlo Casino. In 1860, the town was connected with Frankfurt by a railway line.

In 1888, Homburg became known throughout the German Empire because Kaiser Wilhelm II made its castle his imperial summer residence. He later financed the building of the Church of the Redeemer (Erlöserkirche) nearby. The emperor's mother also lived there for several years. Edward VII of the United Kingdom was often a guest; it was he who introduced the Homburg hat and turned-up trousers. Edward took fasting cures at Homburg 32 times.

The Bad Homburger Golf Club in the Röderweisen in Dornholzhausen – now part of Bad Homburg – is Germany's oldest golf club. It had its beginnings in the Bad Homburg spa park, where the old clubhouse and even playable parts of the old golf course can still be found.

Not far away stands the Russian Chapel, properly called All Saints' Church, an Eastern Orthodox church whose cornerstone was laid by the Russian imperial couple on 16 October 1896, although they did not attend the church's consecration almost three years later.

King Chulalongkorn of Siam (Thailand) sent a garden pavilion in gratitude for a successful cure. It was erected in 1914.

Horex was a well known German motorcycle brand of the "Horex—Fahrzeugbau AG", founded in 1923 in Bad Homburg by Fritz Kleemann.

In 1335, permission was given by Emperor Louis IV to Gottfried von Eppstein to settle 10 Jews in each of the localities of Eppstein, Homburg, and Steinheim; it is uncertain, however, whether any Jews settled in Homburg at that time. Evidence for the existence of a permanent Jewish settlement in Homburg is found only at the beginning of the 16th century. Until 1600 it consisted of 2 or 3 families, and by 1632 these had increased to 16. The first Jewish cemetery was purchased in the 17th century. The community continued to grow so rapidly that in 1703 the landgrave Frederick II of Hesse decided on the construction of a special Judengasse (Jewish quarter). A synagogue, built in 1731, was replaced by a new one in 1867. The Jewish community of Homburg was originally part of the jurisdiction of the rabbinate of Friedberg but began to appoint its own rabbis in the 19th century.

A Hebrew printing house was located in Homburg by Seligmann ben Hirz Reis from 1710 until 1713, when he relocated to Offenbach am Main. Among other items, he published Jacob ibn Ḥabib's Ein Ya'akov (1712). Hebrew printing was resumed there in 1724 by Samson ben Salman Hanau but lack of capital limited his output. The press was acquired in 1736 by Aaron ben Ẓevi Dessau whose publications included the Shulhan Arukh (Ḥoshen Mishpat) with commentary (1742). The press was sold in 1748 and transferred in 1749 to Roedelheim. At the beginning of the 20th century, the spa of Homburg became a meeting place of Russian-Jewish intellectuals. The Jewish population numbered 604 (7.14% of the total population) in 1865, declining to 379 in 1910 (2.64%), and 300 in 1933. Of the 74 Jews who remained on 17 May 1939, 42 were deported in 1942/1943 to Concentration Camps, never to return.

From the History section of Bad Homburg on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Notable people from Bad Homburg vor der Höhe

Born in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.

Where to stay34

Churches and places of worship36

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Shopping68

Gas and EV charging20

Schools, colleges and libraries29

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Healthcare30

Map of Bad Homburg vor der Höhe

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 23 km away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

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