Königstein im Taunus Things to Do

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Given it's beautiful sunshine, then it feels great to take a break & seat at Opel Zoo's dining place Sambesi. It's close to the elephants' camp, and a nice place right at the playground too.
We've had fries, sausage, and the German specality Gruene Sosse & boiled eggs. It's a meatless meal, very German, very special, very healthy, very traditional in Hesse, and available only in the season of spring and summer. If you ever make it to the Opel Zoo, try out that food & place. It's wonderful.

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Within Opel Zoo, there are two special sections. The first section contains a petting zoo where children can feed and pet the animals and the second section contains various play areas. These areas include slides, trampolines and a miniature railway system. The dining places are very nice and neat. The restrooms are very clean and very accurate for kids regarding space and height. The only minus, it's not a zoo for visitors with disability since it's a very hilly area.

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Not too sure what to think about zoos yet The Opel Zoo is one awesome place for any animals. And there for a truly beautiful and fun place to visit with or without kids. Opel Zoo is about 5 mns from Koenigstein town, and about a 20 mns drive from Frankfurt. Unlike other zoos the Opel Zoo is less about fenced in animals but like enbeded the Taunus hills & forest animals. The cages are not really cages, but large enclosures where the animals can live in a more suitable, comfortable environment. Within the zoo, there are two special sections. The first section contains a petting zoo where children can feed and pet the animals and the second section contains various play areas. These areas include slides, trampolines and a miniature railway system. Dining places are very nice and neat. Restrooms are very clean, and very accurate for kids regarding space and height. The only minus, it's not a zoo for visitors with disability since it's a very hilly area. The Opel Zoo's name is derived from Adam Opel who was the founder of the motor company which bears his name. The zoo has a wonderful variety of wild animals from all over the world. There are elephants, tigers, lions, zebras, hippos and many more.

http://www.essortment.com/travel/frankfurtgerman_synf.htm

Open:
the intire year
Winter 9:00 - 17:00
Summer 9:00 - 18:00
June/July/August 9:00 - 19:00

Surprisingly Opel Zoo's webpage doesn't provid any information in English.

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Truly a wonderful place for kids too. It's not about consuming but creating, following fantasy and fairies. Of course keep a close eye on your little ones. Also there is a small store with a very nice dude providing ice cream.

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Very much recommend a walk to, or around, the Falkenstein Fortress not just because I personally do love fortresses, castles, ruins, towers but because this place is indeed an extra ordinary one. Whether yes or no, one loves fortresses and castles, there it does feel and does look like a fairy tale. Meanwhile Falkenstein Fortress is also a location for festivals-goer in summer time.

Play: My Fair Lady
Time: August 23, 2008, 20:00
Location: Falkenstein Fortress in Koenigstein, 61462

Play: Carmen - by stars of "Mailaender Scala"
Time: August 19, 2006, 20:00
Location: Falkenstein Fortress in Koenigstein, 61462

etc.

Open:
November to January on weekends only
Fri : 12:00 to 15:30
Sat: 9:00 to 15: 30
Sun: 9:00 to 15:30

February, March and October
daily 9:30 to bis 16.00 Uhr

April to September
daily 9:00 to 18:30

Adult 2,- Euro
Kids 1,- Euro

Little is known of the origins of Falkenstein. A record dated 1103 mentions the counts of Nuerings (Norings) as having estates in the surrounding area. This family died at the end of the 12th Century. The von Muenzenberg family was followed by the Falkensteins, descendants of a collateral branch of the lords of Bolanden, who had acquired Koenigstein castle in 1252. The Falkensteins built a new castle on the Noringsberg, which they called Neu-Falkenstein. In 1364 the castle was destroyed. The line of the lords of Falkenstein died in 1418, shortly after the castle ruin had passed into the possession of the lords of Nassau. The 15th. Century was the age of the robber barons of Falkenstein. Falkenstein was jointly owned by a number of knight's families. In 1679 the line of the lords of Staffel died, the last family of knights to live in the castle. The castle fell into decay, after the damage done in the Thirty Years War. Village families moved into the castle buildings. The counts of Nassau-Saarbruecken gave the fief to the imperial barons of Bettendorf, who governed in Falkenstein from 1681—1773 and made themselves hated by the people for their harshness. In the 19th. Century the towers and walls were torn down and the rubble used for buildings in the village. In 1842 Mr. Osterrieth, a Frankfurt businessman, got an order prohibiting further demolition. In 1954 the Falkenstein local authority bought the castle from the German Federal State of Hesse.

The Konigstein Castle ruins are a great diversion if your in the area. On entrance you have nearly free run of the whole place. The view from the tower is excellent. Frankfurt and much of the Main valley are visable. The town is very nice as well and has a beautiful Kurpark. Entrance is $1.50(?).