Friedrichsdorf brings together the history of the telephone with historic churches, townscapes and opportunities for a stroll or a longer walk. To plan your stay, you can choose from several themes: the Philipp Reis House focuses on telephony and Huguenot history; in the districts, architectural history and the lanes of Burgholzhausen invite you to explore at your own pace.

The History of Telephony at the Philipp Reis House

The Philipp Reis House presents the history of the telephone, from its spread around 1900 to the use of cordless phones. You are expressly invited to touch and pick up the telephone sets. There are also audio plays, each tailored to a particular type of device. This brings together the history of technology and the chance to try out the devices in the exhibition.

The upper floor houses a permanent exhibition on Huguenot history. The house thus brings together two distinct subjects: the history of telephony and the history of the Huguenots. If one of them particularly interests you, you can plan your visit around it or combine both exhibitions.

Churches, Architectural Styles and Townscapes

The Evangelical Church in Friedrichsdorf was built from 1834 to 1837 by Jakob Westerfeld, based on plans by Rudolf Burnitz. In Köppern, a hall church with an attached choir was built between 1727 and 1731. The two building histories offer different points of interest: their respective construction dates, as well as the named architectural form of the church in Köppern.

Construction of the Evangelical Church in Burgholzhausen began in 1718, and it was consecrated in 1719. The new building, constructed by Wilhelm Dettler, consists of natural-stone masonry. The town centre is also worth a look: it has been restored and is characterised by numerous half-timbered houses. The narrow lanes can be explored on a leisurely stroll—a different way to discover the area than learning about the churches’ construction dates and architectural styles.

The Garnier Institute is a double-courtyard complex that dates back to a former boys’ boarding school founded by Louis Frédéric Garnier in 1836. The courtyard contains an institute fountain, inaugurated in 1896, with busts of Louis Frédéric Garnier and Karl Wilhelm Schenk. The complex, fountain and busts provide another historical focus for your visit.

A Stroll or a Circular Hiking Trail?

For a leisurely stroll, the narrow lanes in Burgholzhausen’s historic town centre are a good choice. The Friedrichsdorf circular hiking trail is marked with a yellow “F,” is 18.3 kilometres long and connects the town’s four districts. Its length makes it a different time commitment from exploring the lanes: you can choose between a stroll through the town centre and a longer hike without treating the two options as the same.

Hands-on Activities for Families and Groups

The Seulberg Local History Museum presents the traditions and daily life of Seulberg and its surroundings. It offers a varied programme of hands-on activities for families and children; the museum goblin Sulinchen guides visitors through the area’s history. The museum offers a different focus from the Philipp Reis House: here, everyday life and traditions take centre stage, while the latter focuses on telephony and Huguenot history.

Taunus Climbing Forest is suitable for family outings, activities with friends, club events and team-building experiences. The activities mentioned therefore range from exhibitions and a stroll through a historic town centre to a climbing-forest outing. Which ones suit your stay depends on whether you are looking for culture, a walk or a shared activity.

More Destinations in the Wider Hochtaunus Travel Region

The wider Hochtaunus travel region offers other distinct places to visit and routes to explore. The Hessenpark Open-Air Museum is located in Neu-Anspach in the Hochtaunuskreis district. Its family trail shows children and adults together how people used to live, make their homes and work.

The Hochtaunus Limes Experience Trail follows the route of the Limes hiking trail or the Limes cycle route and runs for more than 30 kilometres from Glashütten to Ober-Mörlen. By comparison, the Friedrichsdorf circular hiking trail is 18.3 kilometres long and connects the town’s four districts. Check the trail conditions before setting out on the Limes Experience Trail.

Getting to the Philipp Reis House

You can reach the Philipp Reis House on the S5 from Frankfurt Central Station, as well as on Taunusbahn RB 15 from Brandoberndorf and RB 16 from Friedberg, getting off at Friedrichsdorf station. Check the current timetable before travelling. When choosing your hotel, you can first decide which of Friedrichsdorf’s themes are of particular interest to you during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Königstein im Taunus, Oberursel, Neu-Anspach, Steinbach, Wehrheim, Kronberg, Usingen, Grävenwiesbach.

Go to the wider travel overview: Hochtaunus.