Idstein is a town that captures the Germany of storybooks without the crowds.
Visitors may flock to better-known destinations such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber, but this small town in the Taunus Mountains offers a real slice of German history and culture.
Take a stroll through Idstein's old town and you'll find yourself surrounded by some of the finest half-timbered architecture in Hesse. These aren't museum pieces - people still live and work in these colourful medieval buildings.
A view of Idstein in the Taunus mountains
The pointed spire of the Hexenturm dominates the narrow cobbled streets where modern German life unfolds against a 900-year-old backdrop.
Idstein remains refreshingly authentic. You won't find rows of souvenir shops or tour buses clogging the streets. Instead, you'll discover local bakeries, a weekly market and cafés where locals gather for their morning coffee.
Idstein is located around 25 kilometres north of Wiesbaden and 50 kilometres to the northwest of Frankfurt in the Rheingau-Taunus district of Hesse.
Idstein is part of the German Timber-Frame Road (a tourist route of destinations with historic timber-framed town centres). It is also a good base for those exploring the region and especially for hikers who can explore a good network of walking trails in the area.
Frankfurt Airport is the closest international airport to Idstein and is the logical choice for most visitors arriving by air travel.
Distance to Frankfurt Airport: 38km
Distance to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport: 120km
Distance to Cologne Bonn Airport: 132km
Frankfurt Hahn Airport, which is actually to the west of Idstein, offers some services from low-cost airlines and Cologne-Bonn has a far more limited range of destinations than the main Frankfurt Airport.
Idstein's railway station is located about 20 minutes' walk to the west of the old town. Regional rail services run between Limburg an der Lahn to the north and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof.
The A3 motorway runs to the west of Idstein and is the best road connection to Cologne in the northwest and Frankfurt to the southeast.
The B275 regional road connects to the A3 and to other towns to the east and northeast of Idstein.
If you know when you are planning to go but haven't decided on accommodation, then use the map below to get an idea of which properties are available and to compare prices during the period you wish to travel.
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Idstein has been around since the early Middle Ages. The town was first mentioned in 1102 as "Etichenstein" and received city rights in 1287 from Rudolf von Habsburg.
Idstein was home to the Counts of Nassau-Idstein from 1102 to 1721, with a few short breaks. This period had a big impact on the town's appearance, especially its half-timbered architecture.
Half-timbered houses in Idstein
The town saw plenty of development between 1497 and 1588, with the construction of the castle area, including its famous Hexenturm (Witch's Tower).
The Renaissance palace was built between 1614 and 1634, adding a touch of grandeur to the townscape. However, 1676 saw a dark period in the town's history when 43 people were executed during witch trials.
Idstein's importance waned in 1721 when the Nassau-Idstein line died out and it lost its status as a residence city. The town later found new prosperity through leather manufacturing from the late 18th to mid-20th century. The industrial era came to an end in 1959 with the closure of the main leather factory.
More recently, Idstein has hosted the Hessentag state festival and been recognised as a European City of Reformation. Modern-day Idstein has kept a lot of its medieval and Renaissance character, especially in the old town. Luckily, Idstein was spared major damage during World War II.
Idstein packs centuries of German history into its compact old town. The market square, König-Adolf-Platz, serves as the natural starting point. Its medieval buildings date from 1450-1650.
The Killingerhaus stands out for its ornate wooden carvings and projecting bay windows. (An apocryphal local legend claims the original owner moved it piece by piece from Strasbourg.)
A few doors down, the Crooked House lives up to its name - its distinct lean is visible from the square.
The 'Crooked House' and 'Witches' Tower' in Idstein
The 12th-century castle looms above town. Its grounds tell a dark story - 43 people were executed here during the witch trials of 1676. The Witches' Tower isn't connected to these events, but remains Idstein's oldest structure. Visitors can climb it with a key from the tourist office.
The Renaissance-era Residenz, built in 1614, has served many roles: military hospital, teacher training college, and today, a school.
Three streets offer the best views of Idstein's half-timbered architecture:
The Idstein tourist office is located in the Killingerhaus on the central König-Adolf-Platz. It is open fully five days a week from Tuesday to Saturday (with a lunch break on weekdays) and is also open on Sunday afternoons.
Website: www.idstein.de