It was supposed to be a simple garden cottage that Prince Georg August Samuel of Nassau-Idstein had built on the Rhine in 1700 at the request of his wife, Henriette. But they ended up liking it so much there that they kept expanding it until, by 1750, the cottage had become a three-winged Baroque palace. Georg August Samuel certainly had a specific model in mind—Versailles, which he had visited previously. Naturally, the pleasure palace was complemented by an impressive park, just like its French counterpart—featuring a maze and the romantic Mosburg. 

Fascinating: In the 19th century, Duke Adolf of Nassau had a large greenhouse complex with a palm house and winter gardens built in the park of Biebrich Palace. This modern glass-and-iron structure housed thousands of exotic plants from all over the world. After the German War of 1866, however, the Duchy of Nassau was annexed by Prussia. The duke lost his political power and was forced to sell parts of his estate, including the greenhouses and 20,000 plants, which later formed the basis for the Frankfurt Palmengarten, which opened in 1871.

Since 1962, Biebrich Palace has been the headquarters of the Hesse State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments. 

• Take a stroll along the Rhine, past the beautiful, stately villas—because in the 19th century, the banks of the Rhine in Biebrich were a popular place to live, where businesspeople and industrialists settled. Don’t miss: the Wagner Villa (opens in a new tab), where Richard Wagner rented a room for a year in 1862 and worked on his “Meistersinger von Nürnberg.” Until he could no longer afford the rent.
• You can get really good ice cream at Gelateria Stefano Covre (opens in a new tab)—for example, spaghetti ice cream to go! 
• At the wine tasting stand, (opens in a new tab) you can enjoy fine wines from various winemakers right on the Rhine. 
• How about a picnic in the park with a view of the castle? At the Trimonzium deli (opens in a new tab), you’ll find everything you need—like antipasti, focaccia, cheese, pinsa, and so much more... 
• You can take a lovely cruise on the Tamara (opens in a new tab) from the Biebrich pier—or stop off at the Rhine island of Rettbergsaue. 
• The charming little Pfortenhaus (opens in a new tab) on the edge of the castle park is both a restaurant and an event venue, where you can enjoy fantastic menus for special occasions.
• Since 1949, the LONGINES PfingstTurnier Wiesbaden (opens in a new tab) has been inviting the best riders to Biebrich to prove their skills on what is arguably one of the most beautiful tournament grounds in the world.
• Looking for a fairytale setting for your wedding? You’ve found it ;-) However, wedding dates at Biebrich Castle are in high demand!