1. Taylor Swift was inspired by a painting in the Museum Wiesbaden for her music video "The Fate of Ophelia" (opens in a new tab)? The scene in which she steps out of a painting is based on Friedrich Heyser's "Ophelia," (opens in a new tab) which can be seen in " (opens in a new tab) which can be seen in the museum's Art Nouveau exhibition. The Museum Wiesbaden has since become a pilgrimage site for Swifties from all over the world!

2. The foundation of the Statue of Liberty in New York was built with cement from Amöneburg? In 1884, Wilhelm Gustav Dyckerhoff and his company, the Portland Cement Factory “Dyckerhoff & Söhne,” (opens in a new tab)“Dyckerhoff & Söhne,” (opens in a new tab) delivered approximately 8,000 barrels of cement—the concrete mix produced from it was the largest of its kind in the world at that time.

3. The writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky lost his fortune playing roulette at the Wiesbaden casino in 1866? As a result, he had to deliver a novel to his publisher on short notice. The result was *The Gambler*, in which he explored his gambling addiction through literature.

4. The Marktkirche's carillon (opens in a new tab), with its 49 bronze bells, is one of the few that can be played by hand? The melodies change weekly and depending on the occasion—for example, the "Narhallamarsch" is on the program during Carnival.

5. Every day, about two million liters of hot mineral water gush from Wiesbaden’s 26 thermal springs. With temperatures ranging from 65 to 70 degrees, they are among the hottest springs in Germany and its neighboring countries. Their age is estimated to be at least 200,000 years.

6. The Palmengarten in Frankfurt was opened with the approximately 20,000 exotic plants that had been housed in the greenhouses of Biebrich Palace? Following Prussia’s annexation of the Duchy of Nassau after the German War in 1866, Adolf von Nassau lost his political power. As a result, he was forced to sell off parts of his estate—including the greenhouses and the impressive plant collection from Biebrich Palace. The approximately 20,000 plants eventually found a new home in Frankfurt and formed the foundation for the famous Frankfurt Palmengarten (opens in a new tab), which opened in 1871.

7. The cost of building the Nerobergbahn was significantly overestimated? In 1888, the original estimate for construction was 100,000 marks—but in the end, it cost more than twice that amount—namely, 222,352 marks.

8. The Hessian State Theater in Wiesbaden was built in just 22 months? The theater was constructed at the initiative of Emperor Wilhelm II, who frequently visited Wiesbaden for spa treatments and wanted a prestigious theater; he officially opened it on October 16, 1894. Just two years later, the first International May Festival (opens in a new tab) took place here; it is considered the second-oldest festival in Germany after Bayreuth.

9. Is there really a bandits’ hideout in Rabengrund? Heinrich Anton Leichtweiß was a respected citizen until he turned 65—until he was accused of poaching, went to prison, and then eked out a meager existence in the woods until he was arrested again and died in prison. The Leichtweiß Cave is open to visitors.

10. The Piccolo was invented in Wiesbaden? In 1935, Karl Henkell, grandson of company founder Adam Henkell, took a bold step: He launched his Henkell Trocken brand of sparkling wine for the first time in a convenient 200-ml sparkling wine bottle. A revolutionary idea at the time! Inspired by the Italian word “piccoWiesbaden? In 1935, Karl Henkell, grandson of company founder Adam Henkell, took a bold step: He launched his Henkell Trocken brand of sparkling wine for the first time in a convenient 200-ml sparkling wine bottle. A revolutionary idea at the time! Inspired by the Italian word “piccoWiesbaden? In 1935, Karl Henkell, grandson of company founder Adam Henkell, took a bold step: He launched his Henkell Trocken brand of sparkling wine for the first time in a convenient 200-ml sparkling wine bottle. A revolutionary idea at the time! Inspired by the Italian word “piccolo,” meaning “small,” Henkell gave his invention the Germanized name “Pikkolo” and had the name trademarked.

11. Did you know that Wiesbaden is the “parakeet capital of the Rhine-Main region”? Two-thirds of the region’s parakeet population lives here. Two species of parakeets—the ring-necked parakeet and the Alexandrine parakeet—have made the city their permanent home.