Usingen between cliffs, castle garden and Taunusbad

Cliffs and landscape in the Usinger Land

The Eschbach Cliffs lie in the heart of the Usinger Land and are a prominent destination for walkers. The Buchstein rock, as the cliffs are also known, is also a popular climbing spot. From there, you can look out over the Usingen Basin and the Taunus. Parking is available close to the cliffs. This makes it easy to plan a visit centred on this distinctive natural landmark without conflating the cliffs with the rest of the gently rolling landscape.

If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Usingen, consider which side of the town you’d like to shape your trip: the landscape and time outdoors, or the historic and cultural attractions. The cliffs offer a distinctive natural highlight; in town, the garden and museums are among the options for other interests.

Castle garden: history, roses and events

The surviving grounds of Usingen Castle Garden are near the former Usingen Castle and Schlossplatz. Their origins date back to the 17th century, to the time of Walrad (1635–1702), the first Prince of Nassau-Usingen. The upper section, which is in use today, includes a fountain, a monument to Prince Walrad erected in 1905, and a war memorial. The castle garden also includes the adjoining rose garden and a nature-themed playground in the upper section.

Various events take place in the castle garden in summer, including a family festival during the Hessian summer holidays, a summer night festival and a rose garden festival. The Usingen Laurentius Market takes place in September and includes the Laurentius fair, a general market, a countryside fair and district livestock shows. These festivals and the market add their own seasonal highlights; if you want to plan your trip around them, be sure to take the relevant dates into account.

Museums and insights into Usingen’s history

The Museum of Prehistory and Early History is located in the basement of the historic town hall. It displays archaeological finds from the Usinger Land, spanning the Palaeolithic period to the Germanic period. The exhibition is open every other Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., from spring to autumn. By arrangement, special guided tours outside regular opening hours are available for groups, including school classes, and, in exceptional cases, for individuals.

The Usingen City Museum, housed in the historic Kavaliershaus, offers a different perspective on the town’s history. It displays famous people from Usingen as well as historic household items and tools of the trade. The objects on display date from the 17th century to around 1950. Together, the two museums offer different perspectives: one focuses on archaeological finds from a long span of history, while the other covers notable people and everyday objects from more recent history. If culture is central to your stay, you can use these museums as a guide when choosing a holiday apartment in Usingen that suits your interests.

Swimming spots and getting there

The Hattsteinweiher is located near Usingen, northwest of the town at the edge of the municipal forest. The lake covers around 1.6 hectares and is about four metres deep. The bathing area has a lawn for sunbathing, a sandy beach and a designated shallow-water area for non-swimmers; parking is available near the lake. Usingen’s Taunusbad has a 25-metre sports pool, 1-metre and 3-metre diving boards or towers, and starting blocks. These swimming spots therefore differ both in their location and in their specific features.

Usingen is well connected via the A3 and A5 motorways and linked to the Rhine-Main Transport Association rail network. A holiday apartment in Usingen is worth considering if the attractions described here match your travel interests.

More local guides: Eschbach, Königstein im Taunus, Grävenwiesbach, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Neu-Anspach, Glashütten, Schmitten, Friedrichsdorf.

Back to the main travel guide: Hochtaunus.