HESSEN
- Alex P
- Oct 10, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Hessen can rightfully be called a land of contrasts, where dense forests and vineyards stand side by side with medieval castles and ultra-modern skyscrapers.
HESSEN: ICONIC LANDMARKS
Hessen (Hesse) is a region where every town is full of history and unique charm. The bustling markets, picturesque vineyards, and mystical forests of Hessen never cease to inspire travel and discovery. The atmosphere of medieval romance intertwines with modern dynamism, creating a unique blend of tradition and innovation. This region captivates at first sight and leaves an unforgettable impression.
The ever-busy, business-minded Frankfurt gleams with futuristic towers. It's a rare German city where skyscrapers feel at home, business speaks every language, and the medieval Römerberg square quietly reminds us that history here is older than the stock market.
The state capital, Wiesbaden, beckons with thermal springs boasting unique healing properties, and 19th-century residents still stroll the streets in fine suits.
Historic Marburg enchants with its 500-year-old university atmosphere. Steep staircases, a castle overlooking the city, and tousled students create the feeling that studying here has always been an adventure.
HESSEN: COAT OF ARMS' HISTORY
The name of the land is associated with the Germanic Hessian tribes, who inhabited this territory before the new era.
A lion of this unusual coloring first appeared on the coat of arms of Count Conrad of Thuringia in 1234. This lion even had a special name: "Colorful Lion" ("Bunter Löwe"). In addition to his main duties as a count, Konrad was also the Master of the Teutonic Order - an important and honorable position the count reflected on his coat of arms in the form of a white shield with a black cross. At that time, Thuringia and Hessen were under a single sovereignty, but the idyll didn't last long.
In 1264, Hessen gained independence, partly through war and partly through purchase. Its first ruler, Count Henry I of Hessen, naturally didn't want to give up such a striking, memorable coat of arms. While retaining the coat of arms, he first renamed it the "Hessian Lion."
The state of Hessen acquired its modern form by uniting the territories of the Grand Duchy of Hessen and the Prussian province of Hessen-Nassau.
The coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Hessen directly inherited the "Hessian Lion," but His Serene Highness wished to add additional symbols of rank and dignity to the lion — a royal crown and sword. He was formally entitled to do so. This was done, but it caused a minor scandal. Contemporaries lamented the first fundamental change in 500 years and claimed that the old coats of arms suffered from any innovation.
The coat of arms of the Prussian province of Hessen-Nassau, in addition to the "Hessian Lion," included the coat of arms of the Duchy of Nassau — a golden lion on blue (corresponding to the coat of arms of the Netherlands, as Nassau is a Dutch royal family) — and the coat of arms of the Free City of Frankfurt — a silver eagle on red. To the chagrin of Frankfurt, these were not taken into account when creating the current coat of arms of the state of Hessen.
After numerous forms of government, the People's State of Hessen emerged after the fall of the monarchy in 1918. The "Hessian Lion" was adopted as a single symbol, but without the crown and sword. The result was brief, clever, but somewhat lacking in substance. Therefore, they decided to add the so-called "people's crown" above the shield. It is made of golden leaves and fruits and is intended to emphasize the people's sovereignty.
The current coat of arms was adopted in 1948 following a competition. The main requirement was "preservation of historical traditions and the absence of dynastic and militaristic symbols — crowns, helmets, swords, and oak leaves."
The US Military Administration (OMG) also participated in the competition in its spare time. However, all the specific details about the rejected US proposals for the Hessian coat of arms are hidden in the archives.
HESSEN: FUN FACTS
Of a fairy tale alchemy, headless horsemen, and very real chemistry.
One of the most famous Hessians, the Brothers Grimm were born in Kassel — a city where fairy tales seem to simply lie in the streets. It was here that Jacob and Wilhelm began collecting stories that would later be called "folk tales," although their atmosphere is more urban — with secrets, trials, and hidden logic.
Besides the well-known tales of forests, witches, and lost children, they also wrote some truly unusual texts. For example, "The Riddle Tale" — a short work that invites thought rather than fear. Three women are enchanted into flowers, and only one returns home at night. The husband is promised salvation if he can recognize her among identical flowers. No magic, only observation: there is no morning dew on the "house" flower. In the Brothers Grimm, even miracles are subject to logic, and a fairy tale suddenly turns into an intellectual game.
In the 18th century, the Grand Duchy of Hesse turned military affairs into a lucrative export business. Renting out its own soldiers was a widespread practice, generating profits envied by many of its European neighbors. The Hessians made a particularly notable mark in the American War of Independence, fighting on the side of England. From then on, in America, all German soldiers were simply referred to as "Hessians."
The echo of this story has even reached literature: in Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," the sinister Headless Horseman is none other than the deceased Hessian mercenary, who continued to terrorize a now-free America.
Darmstadt is famous not only as the former residence of the Hessian rulers and a city of Jugendstil (the German name for Art Nouveau). It was here, in scientific laboratories, that in 1994, an element with an almost fairytale name was born: Darmstadtium. You can't find it in nature or put it in your pocket: it exists for a split second, but that was enough to forever inscribe the city on the periodic table. A rare case of chemistry becoming a form of urban fame—fleeting, but officially confirmed.
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