Zoo Frankfurt

Frankfurt zoo was founded in 1858 and is the second oldest zoo in Germany, after Berlin Zoological Garden. It lies in the eastern part of the Innenstadt. More than 5,400 animals from over 470 species live here. A highlight is the Grzimek House, Europe's largest nocturnal animal house. There, day turns into night, allowing you to experience nocturnal animals in their waking phases. In the Exotarium, you can admire rare treasures in many colorful aquariums and terrariums, and in the Borgori Forest great ape house, you can observe gorillas and bonobos in a true jungle atmosphere.

RR: March alternative RR
Date: March 16

Tierpark Sababurg

The Tierpark Sababurg is located in North Hesse in the Reinhardswald. The spacious park with mighty ancient oaks and historic avenues was laid out around 450 years ago and is over 130 hectares in size. Here, over 80 animal species and around 900 animals are shown in large, natural-looking facilities. Predators such as wolves, lynxes, wolverines and otters can be seen live at show feedings. Large herbivores such as bison, elk, reindeer, red deer, fallow deer and wild horses graze under mighty ancient oaks in front of the picturesque backdrop of the Sababurg and raise their young naturally in their herd. 

RR: December alternative RR
Date: Dec 30

Opel-Zoo

The elephant herd of Opel-Zoo is now consisting of the following five animals: Tamo, male, born on 13 January 2008 at Wuppertal Zoo, at Opel Zoo since 17 April 2013; Lilak, female, born around 1971, wild caught, 30 May 1974 to 17 April 1996 Berlin Zoo, then Tierpark Berlin, at Opel Zoo since 26 August 2020; Kariba, female, born on 17 March 2006 at Tierpark Berlin, at the Opel Zoo since August 26, 2020; and Cristina, female, born on June 18, 2006 in the Cabárceno Nature and Animal Park; and her offspring Neco, born on January 8, 2021.

RR: RR Francophone
Date: Sept 9

Frankfurt Skyline

Frankfurt is the only city in Germany which has a skyline of very tall buildings. The skyline has become a landmark in the city over the last 30 years. Nearly 40 buildings in a fairly small area reach a height of more than 100 meters. These include 19 of the 20 tallest skyscrapers in Germany.

RR: RR Francophone
Date: June 20

Grube Messel

The Messel pit is a disused quarry near the village of Messel about 35 km southeast of Frankfurt am Main. Bituminous shale was mined there. Because of its abundance of well-preserved fossils dating from the middle of the Eocene, it has significant geological and scientific importance. Over 1000 species of plants and animals have been found at the site. Messel pit was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

Unesco: Messel Pit Fossil Site
RR: Unesco RR
Date: Nov 11

Saalburg

The Saalburg is a Roman fort located on the main ridge of the Taunus, northwest of Bad Homburg, Hesse. It is a cohort fort, part of the Limes Germanicus, the Roman linear border fortification of the German provinces. The Saalburg is the most completely reconstructed Roman fort in Germany. Since 2005, as part of the Upper German limes, it forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. The rooms within the fort serve today as a research institute and a museum for excavated finds from the Saalburg and other Taunus forts.

Unesco: Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Lower German Limes
RR: Many Themes RR - Unesco
Date: Jan 18

Frankfurt

Frankfurt skyline behind the Osthafenbrücke and the Deutschherrnbrücke and the European Central Bank. The seat of the European Central Bank comprises a twin-tower skyscraper and the former Wholesale Market Hall, with a low-rise building connecting the two. 

RR: September alternative RR
Date: Sept 10

Lorsch Abbey

The most famous building at the World Heritage Site Lorsch Abbey is the Königshalle (King’s Hall). It was built around 900 and is considered one of the best preserved examples of Carolingian architecture, referencing classical styles but also consciously deviating from the canon of classical architectural elements.

Unesco: Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch
RR: Unesco RR
Date: Sept 6

Opel-Zoo

More than 1,600 animals of more than 230 kinds live at the Opel Zoo in Kronberg and they are kept in large enclosures on overall 27 hectares. Among the animals are the only elephants in the State of Hess. The new elephant house with a new enclosure was built in 2013. The elephant cows Zimba, Lilak and Kariba arrived at the Kronberg Opel Zoo. Zimba died earlier this year at  the age of 39. Tamo, the bull lives in Opel-Zoo since 2013. 

Thanks a lot Kessy!
Date: Aug 11

Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt

The Darmstadt Artists’ Colony refers both to a group of Jugendstil artists as well as to the buildings in Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt in which these artists lived and worked. The artists were largely financed by patrons and worked together with other members of the group who ideally had concordant artistic tastes. UNESCO has recognized the Mathildenhöhe artists' colony in Darmstadt as a world heritage site in 2021.

Unesco: Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt
RR: 10 Countries RR
Date: July 28

Lorsch

The town of Lorsch in Hesse, Germany, hosts the renowned Königshalle. Apart from the Gothic gables and a few relics of past repairs and completion, this gatehouse is one of the very rare buildings from the Carolingian era whose original appearance is intact. The abbey was founded in 764 by the Frankish Count Cancor as a proprietary church and monastery on his estate. It became a place of pilgrimage after obtaining the body of Saint Nazarius.

Unesco: Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch
RR: Unesco RR
Date: May 11

Frankfurt am Main

Another beautiful skyline from Frankfurt! Frankfurt has some of the tallest buildings in Europe. Its skyline is unique for the country as the high-rises are concentrated in a relatively small city centre, giving Frankfurt the looks of a metropolis. The skyline is the reason why Frankfurt is sometimes called by the nickname Mainhattan.

Distance: 344 km
Travel time: 4 days