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EuropeGermanyHesse

Wetzlar

Hesse, Germany · Europe

About Wetzlar

Wetzlar sits on the route: 10 minutes from Aßlar, 33km from Saalburg Roman Fort.

Wetzlar is a town located in Hesse, Germany. With a population of 52,656, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Wetzlar sits in Germany, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Berlin time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Wetzlar to your route.

About Wetzlar

Wetzlar (German pronunciation: [ˈvɛtslaːɐ̯] ) is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany. It is the twelfth largest city in Hesse with currently 55,371 inhabitants at the beginning of 2019 (including second homes). As an important cultural, industrial and commercial centre, the university town is one of the ten regional

Read more centres in the state of Hesse. A former free imperial city, it gained much of its fame as the seat of the Imperial Supreme Court (Reichskammergericht) of the Holy Roman Empire. Located 51 kilometres north of Frankfurt, at 8° 30′ E, 50° 34′ N, Wetzlar straddles the river Lahn and is on the German Timber-Frame Road, which passes mile upon mile of half-timbered houses. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis on the north edge of the Taunus. Tourists know the city for its ancient town and its medieval Catholic/Protestant shared cathedral of St. Mary. Notable architectural features include the Eisenmarkt and the steep gradients and tightly packed street layout of a medieval town. The building of the sandstone cathedral commenced in the 12th century in Romanesque style. In the later Middle Ages the construction continued under a master plan in Gothic style. The church was never finished—one steeple still remains uncompleted. The cathedral suffered heavy damage in the Second World War from aerial bombing, but restoration took place in the 1950s. On the outskirts of town along the river stand the ruins of several stone towers. The town hosted the Hessentag state festival twice (the 15th and the 52nd in 1975 and 2012 respectively).

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Wetzlar

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Wetzlar?

Wetzlar offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Wetzlar?

Plan your road trip to Wetzlar with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Wetzlar as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Wetzlar located?

Wetzlar is located in Hesse, Germany, Europe. The coordinates are 50.5611 latitude, 8.5049 longitude.

What is the population of Wetzlar?

Wetzlar has a population of approximately 52,656 people, making it a town in Germany.

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Quick Information

Population
52,656
Continent
Europe
Country
Germany
Region
Hesse
Timezone
Europe/Berlin
Coordinates
50.5611, 8.5049

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Germany

Police
110
Ambulance
112
Fire
112
All emergencies
112
Driving side
right

ADAC roadside assistance: +49 89 22 22 22. No general speed limit on some autobahn sections but advisory 130 km/h.

Full driving guide for Germany

Tags

EuropeGermanyHesseTown

Worth the detour from Wetzlar

7 notable places within an hour's drive.

museum

Nationales Automuseum – The Loh Collection

Opened in 2023 in rural Hesse, this 7,500 m² museum parades some 150 milestone cars, from pre-war Grand Prix machines to Le Mans winners and modern hypercars.

32 km · about 35 min drive

ancient ruins

Saalburg Roman Fort

A fully reconstructed Roman fort on the Limes frontier in the Taunus hills brings legionary life vividly back to view.

33 km · about 40 min drive

cathedral

Limburg Cathedral

A seven-towered orange-and-white Romanesque cathedral perches dramatically on a rock above the Lahn River old town.

37 km · about 40 min drive

historic highway

Schottenring

A German road circuit in the Vogelsberg hills that hosted motorcycle Grands Prix in the 1950s, notorious for its narrow, tree-lined public roads. Still used for historic events and drivable in between.

44 km · about 50 min drive

landmark

Römer Frankfurt

Frankfurt's medieval town hall and its gabled Römerberg square form a postcard-perfect old-town heart amid the skyscrapers.

52 km · about 60 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Neroberg

A wooded hill above Wiesbaden reached by a water-powered funicular, crowned by a gold-domed Russian Orthodox church.

55 km · about 65 min drive

photogenic

Freudenberg Alter Flecken

From the Kurpark steps, Freudenberg's Alter Flecken, rows of near-identical black-and-white half-timbered gables rebuilt after a 1666 fire: lines up into one of Germany's most graphic photographs.

58 km · about 65 min drive

Driving roads near Wetzlar

  • 44 kmSchottenringA German road circuit in the Vogelsberg hills that hosted motorcycle Grands Prix in the 1950s, notorious for its narrow, tree-lined public roads. Still used for historic events and drivable in between.
  • 55 kmNerobergA wooded hill above Wiesbaden reached by a water-powered funicular, crowned by a gold-domed Russian Orthodox church.
  • 71 kmUpper Middle Rhine ValleyA UNESCO-listed 65-km stretch of the Rhine between Koblenz and Bingen, lined with over 40 castles, vineyards, and historic towns.
  • 76 kmNiederwalddenkmalA colossal Germania statue above Rüdesheim surveys the Rhine vineyards, reached by a cable car over the steep slopes.

Driving in Germany

Drives on
the right
Petrol
~€1.78/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Wetzlar.

Aßlar

🇩🇪 Germany

5 km away

Albshausen

🇩🇪 Germany

5 km awayPop. 1,992

Oberbiel

🇩🇪 Germany

6 km awayPop. 2,694

Laufdorf

🇩🇪 Germany

6 km awayPop. 1,800

Burgsolms

🇩🇪 Germany

7 km awayPop. 4,565

Solms

🇩🇪 Germany

7 km awayPop. 13,250

Niederbiel

🇩🇪 Germany

8 km awayPop. 2,246

Schwalbach

🇩🇪 Germany

8 km awayPop. 1,600

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence