In an effort to give you the most detailed picture possible of your upcoming destinations, our organization invites you today to explore Hesse. This is part of your upcoming language study trip to Germany with LEC, of course!
One of the sixteen states that make up Germany
Hesse is one of the sixteen federal states that make up the country separated from France by the Rhine. The region, known as Hessen in Goethe’s native language during his language study trip to Germany, had a population of 5,971,816 in 2011. That is more, for example, than the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, even though it ranks among the three most populous regions in France.
Where is Hesse located?
Hesse, the fifth most populous state in Germany, covers an area of 21,114 km², making it the seventh-largest state in the country. It is located in the central-western part of the country, bordered by North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg (non-exhaustive list).
From Division to Reunification
Throughout its long history, Hesse was divided into two principalities:
- Hesse-Kassel
- Hesse-Darmstadt
It wasn't until after the end of World War II that these two entities were merged to form the state we know today. The main cities that shape its identity? These include:
- Frankfurt, the region's most populous city and one of the most populous cities in the country, alongside Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, and Munich
- Wiesbaden, the state capital
- Offenbach, the hometown of the famous French composer of the same name
- Cassel, a university town where the Brothers Grimm lived for many years
- Darmstadt, known as the City of Science
- Marburg, which became a major center of Protestant theology during the Reformation
- Fulda, which owes its fame to its Benedictine abbey founded in the 8th century