Vogelsberg
The Vogelsberg is a large volcanic mountain range in the German Central Uplands in the state of Hesse, separated from the Rhön Mountains by the Fulda river valley.
Emerging approximately 19 million years ago, the Vogelsberg is Central Europe's largest basalt formation, consisting of a multitude of layers that descend from their peak in ring-shaped terraces to the base.
Getting to Vogelsberg
International visitors will arrive mostly at Frankfurt Airport, the second largest airport in Europe and a major hub for the German carrier Lufthansa. Frankfurt's central station is less than 15 minutes away by subway. Hahn, somewhat misleadingly officially called "Frankfurt Hahn" even though the hamlet is over 100 km away from Frankfurt, is a former military airfield being used by "no frills" low budget airlines.
Worth seeing
Frankfurt's skyline of high-rises clustered in the city centre is a rare sight in Europe. Wiesbaden with Kurhaus (spa house), it is one of the oldest spa towns in Europe with 26 (today: 14) hot springs. Not necessarily touristy Rüdesheim, but the Middle Rhine Valley of the river Rhine with its castles and vineyards such as Schloss Vollrads in Oestrich-Winkel.
Things to do
Shopping, museums, opera, theater and ballet options abound in Frankfurt. Hesse has much nature, and is good for outdoor life. Take a boat trip on the rivers Main and Rhine. Go canoeing on the Lahn river. Do some hiking up the Feldberg/Taunus or in the Spessart woods. The Rheinsteig walking trail passes through the Rheingau and the Middle Rhine Valley.
Where to eat
A vegetarian option for the daring is Handkäs mit Musik, literally: hand cheese with music, a traditional dish where dry, round, low-fat cheese is marinated in oil with caraway and raw onions (hence the "music"). Another Hesse specialty is Rippchen mit Kraut, cooked pork chops with loads of Sauerkraut. Not to mention the original Frankfurter Würstchen, which are essentially the same as Wiener.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Jörg Braukmann (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.