Wiesbaden (pop 266,000) is the state’s capital and an elegant spa town where European aristocracy used to flock to drink the waters.

Sample the luxury of a Roman-Irish steam bath in the art nouveau Kaiser-Friedrich-Bad and taste the ‘hot’ waters in the “Kochbrunnen” – an ancient water fountain and the source of the spa.

Take the Rheingauer-Riesling Route, the B42 from Wiesbaden, and do some wine-tasting.