Kronberg im Taunus: Castle, Half-Timbered Houses and Art

A castle perched on a rocky spur, medieval-looking half-timbered houses and several museums give Kronberg im Taunus a distinctive cultural profile. Wildlife watching at Opel Zoo and the historic gardens of Quellenpark Kronthal are other possible highlights. You can tailor your stay to whether you mainly want to explore the town’s history, art or nature, or plan a visit to the zoo.

Explore the castle and old town

Kronberg Castle stands on a rocky spur on the southern slope of the Taunus; from here, you can enjoy views across the Rhine-Main plain. The castle was probably built in the 12th century as an imperial castle on Hohenstaufen crown land. The nearly 44-metre-high free-standing tower also offers expansive views of the surrounding area, reaching as far as the Spessart and Odenwald on a clear day.

Since 2008, a permanent exhibition on the castle’s history has been on display in the north wing of the Middle Castle. The Kronberg Castle Museum also features a faithful replica of the 14th-century armour of Hartmuth VI of Kronberg. A Gothic kitchen with a large fireplace, a well and various implements offers further insight into historical ways of life. The museum and castle interiors can only be visited as part of a guided tour; check the current tour dates before your visit.

The old town also invites you to explore different aspects of local history. Its half-timbered houses have a medieval appearance. Notable features of St John’s Church include impressive tombs of the von Kronberg family and a painted wooden barrel vault. The Streitkirche stands directly next to St John’s Church: it was built as a Catholic church in the 18th century under the rule of the Electors of Mainz, but was never consecrated as one. The Receptur, meanwhile, is a former administrative building from the period of Mainz rule; its courtyard lies beyond an arched gateway dating from the 16th century.

Art, design and local stories

Kronberg’s art history dates back to the mid-19th century. At the time, painters from the Städel Art Institute in Frankfurt discovered the town as an idyllic natural setting and founded an artists’ colony there. Since 2001, the Kronberger Malerkolonie Museum has displayed works by artists from this colony. If you are interested in a different blend of culture and design, the Braun Collection features a permanent exhibition on the development of the Braun company in technology and design. Changing exhibitions also showcase objects from the design archive.

The Kronberg Lantern Trail offers its own way of telling stories about the past. Silhouettes on lanterns in the old town depict major events and small anecdotes from the past, and are complemented by guided tours with theatrical scenes. Alongside exhibitions and historic buildings, narrated town history and visual motifs in public spaces offer other cultural highlights.

Wildlife and gardens

Opel Zoo offers a different focus. On its 27-hectare grounds, circular routes and nature trails provide views into the animal enclosures. The zoo is home to around 1,700 animals from more than 220 species, mostly from Africa, Asia and Europe. When planning your visit, you can choose between exploring the grounds and taking part in the zoo’s educational programmes. These are aimed at kindergartens, school classes from primary school through to upper-secondary exam groups, and other groups. They include holiday activities, children’s birthday parties, trips for seniors and company outings.

If you would rather explore a historic site surrounded by greenery than visit animal enclosures, consider Quellenpark Kronthal. The park is a historic garden with mature trees and springs. A mineral spring in the small valley was first mentioned in official records in the mid-16th century. The garden and the zoo thus add two distinct themes to the cultural offering, appealing to different visitor interests.

Getting there and choosing accommodation

For travel by train, the S-Bahn line 4 is a useful option: it takes less than 20 minutes to reach Kronberg from Frankfurt’s main railway station. Check the current timetable before travelling. If you are arriving by car, the centrally located car park at Berliner Platz is one parking option in Kronberg; check the parking conditions in advance.

When choosing accommodation, start by asking what you want your stay to focus on: the castle, old town, churches and museums make for a culture-focused itinerary, while Opel Zoo and Quellenpark offer different highlights. The places mentioned cover a range of interests, from historic interiors and painting to wildlife and gardens. The S-Bahn connection to Frankfurt may also factor into your travel plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Glashütten, Friedrichsdorf, Königstein Im Taunus, Steinbach, Neu-Anspach, Bad Homburg Vor Der Höhe, Schmitten, Wehrheim.

Back to the main travel overview: Hochtaunus.