Kronberg Castle sits on a rocky spur on the southern slope of the Taunus and offers views across the Rhine-Main Plain. The old town, museums and Opel-Zoo add further highlights: architectural history, painting and design sit alongside wildlife observation. Visitors choosing Kronberg for a stay can focus on a range of different interests.
Old Town, Architectural History and Springs
Kronberg’s old town has half-timbered houses with a medieval appearance. St. John’s Church has impressive tombs of the von Kronberg family and a painted wooden barrel vault. The Streitkirche stands right next door. It was built as a Catholic church in the 18th century under the rule of the Electors of Mainz, but was never consecrated as one.
The Receptur is a former administrative building from the era of the Electorate of Mainz; its courtyard opens behind an archway dating from the 16th century. Kronthal Spring Park offers a different perspective on local history: this historic garden features mature trees and springs. A mineral spring in the small valley was first mentioned in a document in the mid-16th century.
Artists’ Colony and Design
The history of the Kronberg artists’ colony began around the middle of the 19th century. At that time, painters from the Städel Art Institute in Frankfurt discovered Kronberg as an idyllic spot in nature and founded an artists’ colony there. Since 2001, the Museum of the Kronberg Artists’ Colony has displayed works by the colony’s artists.
The Braun Collection focuses on something different: its permanent exhibition traces the development of the Braun company in technology and design. Changing exhibitions also feature objects from its design archive. In Kronberg, painting and artists’ history thus sit alongside a collection exploring technology and design.
The Kronberg Lantern Trail also combines history with a distinctive way of sharing it. Silhouettes in the old town’s lanterns depict major events and small anecdotes from the past; the trail also features guided tours with dramatic scenes.
A Highlight of Its Own: Opel-Zoo
Across Opel-Zoo’s 27-hectare grounds, walking trails and nature trails offer views into the animal enclosures. The zoo is home to around 1,700 animals from more than 220 species, most of them from Africa, Asia and Europe. A visit combines walks around the zoo with opportunities to observe the animals in their enclosures.
The zoo also offers educational programs for specific groups. These are aimed at kindergartens, school classes from elementary school through to final-year courses, and other groups such as holiday programs, children’s birthday parties, senior outings and company excursions.
Getting to Kronberg
You can reach Kronberg from Frankfurt Central Station on S-Bahn line 4 in less than 20 minutes. Check the current timetable before your travel date. If you are traveling by car, the centrally located parking garage at Berliner Platz is one parking option in Kronberg; check the current parking conditions in advance.
Discover more destinations: Grävenwiesbach, Oberursel, Friedrichsdorf, Königstein Im Taunus, Steinbach, Schmitten, Wehrheim, Bad Homburg Vor Der Höhe
Back to the regional travel overview: Hochtaunus.
