Happy TravellerWelcome to the state-run spa town of Bad Wildungen in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district of Hesse, Germany. Located on the German Timber-Frame Road, this charming town is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Nestled in the eastern foothills of the Kellerwald range in the Waldeck holiday region, Bad Wildungen offers breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and mouthwatering local cuisine. Join us as we uncover the many treasures of Bad Wildungen and reveal why this enchanting destination should be on every traveler’s bucket list.
Geographically, Bad Wildungen lies 11 km west of Fritzlar and 35 km southwest of Kassel. The town spreads out east of the Homberg and is crossed by the river Wilde, which empties into the Eder at the constituent community of Wega. The constituent communities of Wega and Mandern lie on the Eder, on which also lies the Edersee, a reservoir lying only about 10 km northwest (in a straight line) of the main town of Bad Wildungen. The river Urff flows through the southwest constituent communities of Hundsdorf, Armsfeld, and Bergfreiheit. The nearest large towns are Kassel (about 35 km; northeast), Marburg (about 60 km; southwest) and Korbach (about 28 km; northwest).
Bad Wildungen has a rich history dating back to 800 AD, when it was first mentioned in the Hersfeld Monastery’s goods directory under the name villa Wildungun. In 1200, a castle was built by the Thuringian Landgraves, around which Alt-Wildungen (High Wildungen) developed. In 1242, Nieder-Wildungen (Lower Wildungen), which had been founded on the hill facing the castle, was granted town rights. From 1263, the castle and the two Wildungen towns were owned by the Counts – later Princes – of Waldeck, who only abdicated after the First World War (see Principality of Waldeck). In 1358, the two Wildungen towns were mentioned. In 1906, the town of Nieder-Wildungen was given the new name Bad Wildungen because of its bath. In 1940, Bad Wildungen was given the title of Preußisches Staatsbad (Prussian State Bath).
Bad Wildungen’s civic coat of arms is Sable an eight-pointed mullet Or. The town has several partner cities, including Saffron Walden, Essex, United Kingdom since 1986, Yichun, Heilongjiang, China since 1988, and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, département of Savoie in France since 1990.
Culture and sightseeing are abundant in Bad Wildungen. The town has several museums, including the Quellenmuseum (Spa Museum), the Heimatmuseum (local history museum), the Museum for Military and Hunting History of the Kassel State Museums (Museum für Militär und Jagdgeschichte der Staatlichen Museen Kassel) at Schloss Friedrich
