Visit to Germany - Idstein

BELOW:  Das Schiefe Haus (the Crooked House)

Idstein is in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis, a scenic region of hills, forests, and vineyards in Hesse, Germany.

The town lies in the Taunus mountain range, about 16 kilometres (10 miles) north of Wiesbaden and a short drive from Frankfurt (32 miles / 50 km).

​Idstein is known for its well-preserved Altstadt - old town - with colourful and ornate half-timbered houses from the 17th century. The town's oldest preserved house was originally built in 1410.
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Idstein is on the German Timber-Frame Road (Deutsche Fachwerkstraße) which is a tourist route that connects towns with remarkable fach The German Timber-Frame Road (Deutsche Fachwerkstraße) is a tourist route that connects towns with remarkable fachwerk. German fachwerk (timber frame) building styles are extremely varied with a huge number of carpentry techniques which are highly regionalized.
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The town's main landmark is the Hexenturm (Witches' Tower), a 12th-century bergfried (a tall tower typical of the Middle Ages in German-speaking countries). and is part of Idstein Castle and now houses a museum. There is plaque on the wall nearby  commemorating those who lost their lives when the town purged those suspected of witchcraft by burning them. A total of 35 women and 8 men were accused of witchcraft and executed. Idstein was quite notorious in 1676 for their witch trials!