In my free time, I am always drawn to a favorite place in nature and by the water, located on the Main and Rhine rivers: the Maaraue in Kostheim and the Reduit in Kastel.

Away from the noisy, busy streets and numerous historical sights that Wiesbaden has to offer, the Maaraue is a local recreation area that is easy to reach on foot, by bike or by car - from Kostheim or Kastel.

The peninsula at the mouth of the River Main into the Rhine is richly wooded. There are numerous walking, cycling and hiking trails. The view of the greenery and the water is a breath of fresh air. A path runs along the banks of the Rhine, past the mouth of the Main and Wiesbaden's largest open-air swimming pool with wide sunbathing lawns under tall trees. It offers a view of the south bridge and the outline of the state capital Mainz opposite.

A large leisure meadow opens up to the right with plenty of space to chill out, sunbathe or play and for sporting activities. Children can let off steam on a small playground, not far from a hut with barbecue facilities.

A statue made of red sandstone can be admired somewhat hidden nearby. It commemorates a magnificent festival that took place on the Maaraue in 1184. With over 70,000 guests, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa celebrated a splendidly decorated court day here, at which two of his sons were knighted. To mark the 800th anniversary, the so-called Barbarossa Column was erected in 1984 under the direction of Erwin Mosen.

You can also discover the nearby raft harbor, which is reminiscent of the heyday of rafting. The arm of the Main that separates the Maaraue from the mainland is called Floßhafen. A section of around 100 meters lies dry and forms the transition. Today, numerous boats and leisure vessels are moored in the former harbor, the water police are based there and the Maaraue campsite with a view of the Rhine is also located nearby.

For more than 400 years, rafting shaped the history of the local communities of Kastel and Kostheim. Every year, around five million cubic meters of wood from Bavaria passed through the Main locks. The wood came mainly from the Steigerwald and the Odenwald. In Kastel, the logs were then bundled with those from the local region on the water and transported down the Rhine to Holland. With the beginning of industrialization, rafting experienced its decline. The last raft trip was undertaken in 1964. The "Kasteler Flößer" memorial commemorates this special and formative time for the districts.

After a long walk across the natural Maara floodplain, you finally reach the "Reduit", a former military facility that was part of the Mainz federal fortress. It is now home to the interesting "Museum Castellum", several Kastel clubs and a youth center. In summer, the inner courtyard of the Reduit is used for open-air cinema, concerts, markets and other events.

Finally, right on the banks of the Rhine, you can experience culinary highlights in the Schönborn bastion or enjoy the atmosphere on the sandy beach. A visit to the Maaraue and the Reduit promises both relaxation and stimulation.