Let’s celebrate Beethoven and immerse ourselves in culture!
Although 2020 has only just started, it already looks like it’s going to be a year of inspirational culture! The FrankfurtRhineMain region in Germany has an explosive menu of cultural and culinary highlights awaiting you this year – from UNIQUE gin, Benedictine wine, and special exhibitions all the way to Beethoven himself. It’s time to dive into a year of cultural surprises!
Let’s celebrate Beethoven’s 250th anniversary!
It’s the Beethoven Anniversary Year, a time to celebrate the genius! And what better way to do this than with music? The FrankfurtRhineMain region has several events lined up this year: international stars including Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen will perform at a number of concerts jointly organized by the city of Frankfurt and the esteemed Alte Oper throughout the year; Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, will play on no less than four occasions at the Staatstheater Darmstadt between January and April; as part of their 2020 summer tour, the National Youth Orchestra of Germany (consisting of Germany’s youngest elite musicians) and the World Youth Choir will honor Beethoven with “The Nine Project”, a rendition combining Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and the world premiere of Tan Dun’s “Nine”, at the Kurhaus Wiesbaden on August 14 and again at the Kongress Palais Stadthalle in Kassel on August 16; and the Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt will perform at two concerts, which include Beethoven’s String Quartets, Op. 18, at the Comoedienhaus Wilhelmsbad on April 26 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (also known as the Eroica) at the Congress Park Hanau on May 16, both in Hanau, the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm.
Click here for further cultural highlights in the FrankfurtRhineMain region.
Exciting choice of museums in Darmstadt
Did you know that the unique Messel Pit, a fossil site providing rare fossils and singular information about the early stages of the evolution of mammals, was the first German site to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List? Or that the Hessian State Museum, celebrating its bicentenary with various special exhibitions and events this year, is one of the very few universal museums in the world? The variety of museums in Darmstadt – just a stone’s throw from Frankfurt – is reason enough to jump onto a train and explore the city when visiting Frankfurt. A museum guide provides an overview of the main museums to visit as well as general information including their opening hours and contact information, making it easier to plan your trip.
Benedictine wine, made in Rüdesheim
The beautiful town of Rüdesheim on the Rhine gives new meaning to blessed wine. The Benedictine nuns in St. Hildegard Abbey produce and sell around 50,000 bottles of wine, mainly Riesling, every year! You can visit the abbey to see how the wine is produced, purchase the many delicacies – not only wine – available at the abbey store or simply enjoy a little break at the café there. The abbey has 25 rooms where you can spend the night or stay for a retreat, which includes spiritual exercises and guidance. Not only is St. Hildegard Abbey’s location along one of the most romantic stretches of the Rhine Valley stunning; visiting it is an unforgettable experience for both the palate and the soul.
Download the visitor’s guide or visit the abbey’s website for more information.
Shaken, not stirred: Gin in Hesse
When you do something with great passion, the result will most likely be UNIQUE! The two young Hessian entrepreneurs Christoph and Andre named their company UNIQUE for a reason: their gin production using only regional products is indeed unique. They use a total of 13 ingredients, including fresh strawberries, basil, vanilla, and other secret botanicals, for their UNIQUE gins. It is not only the gin that’s special; it’s also the way it should be served. A refurbished horse box serves as a mobile gin bar – Ginny Bar – the first of its kind in Germany. You can have gin tasting sessions organized on request or visit the horse-box bar at regional local fairs.
Click here to view their gin-tasting calendar (only available in German). Cheers!
Let the carnival begin! Mainz is more than ready.
For many, the carnival season and preparations for this grand celebration have already begun. Although this is a widespread tradition in Germany, Mainz is one of the leading cities when it comes to the yearly carnival celebrations: outstanding floats and creative costumes transform the city into an incredible party location that’s impossible to envisage without having been there. The main dates this year are the “Altweiberfastnacht” on February 20, the “Parade der Garden” on February 23, and the long parades, candy throwing, and blaring music on Shrove Monday on February 24. So dress up and join the fun!
Click here for further information.
Press contact:
Charlotte Lockert Jakobsen (Senior Project Manager)
E: charlotte.jakobsen@tourcomm-germany.com
P: +49 (0)6201 6020821
W: www.frankfurt-rhine-main.com
