As you walk through the streets of Germany, you’ll often come across bright yellow mailboxes. You might wonder, “Why yellow?” In contrast to Japan’s red mailboxes, this color choice has a historical background. The yellow of Deutsche Post, Germany’s postal service, is not just about visibility—it has origins dating back to the Holy Roman Empire.
In the late 15th century, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (1459–1519) entrusted the noble Taxis family (later known as the Thurn and Taxis family) with postal services. At the time, couriers known as Postilions wore uniforms featuring yellow with black trim—colors associated with the Holy Roman Empire. Over the years, postal uniforms underwent various changes. For instance, in Prussia, a combination of dark blue and orange was used for some time. However, yellow eventually became the dominant color due to its high visibility.
In 1946, the Allied Control Council officially designated yellow as the standard color for postal services across Germany. Since then, German mailboxes and postal vehicles have remained uniformly yellow.
The next time you spot a yellow mailbox on a German street corner, you might find yourself transported through history, adding a little extra charm to your journey.
hidden.germany 16.03.2025
Johannes Gutenberg, known as the “Father of Printing,” is honored in the city of Mainz, home to the Gutenberg Museum. Mainz is also the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate.Right across the Rhine River lies Wiesbaden, the capital of the neighboring state of Hesse. These two capitals are among the rare pairs of state capitals in Germany that directly border each other—similar to Berlin and Potsdam.
The Rhine forms the natural boundary between them, but interestingly, there’s an area on the opposite bank called “Mainz,” which actually belongs to Wiesbaden under administrative divisions.
Germany’s federal system means each state operates under different rules. Even the number of public holidays and the timing of school summer vacations vary by state. So, for residents of Mainz, their exact location—whether they work, study, or live on one side of the river or the other—can affect their holidays and school schedules.
This closeness to a state border gives Mainz its unique and sometimes puzzling charm.
hidden.germany 16.02.2025
Wiesbaden, the capital of Hesse, lies just 30 km west of Frankfurt and is celebrated as one of Germany’s most historic spa towns. Renowned for its elegance, the city boasts charming streets and architectural gems at every turn. Among its many highlights, Biebrich Palace stands out as a true masterpiece. This stunning Baroque palace graces the banks of the Rhine River, surrounded by magnificent gardens that invite you to take a leisurely stroll and soak in the beauty of the landscape.
👉 Discover more about this enchanting destination in our detailed article.
hidden.germany 10.02.2025
The capital of Hesse is not Frankfurt. The correct answer is Wiesbaden (WI)!
The name of Hesse’s capital, Wiesbaden, includes “baden,” which means “to bathe” in German, perfectly fitting for a famous spa town. 💧
Germany has many other spa towns with “baden” or its derivative “Bad” (bath) in their names. For example, Baden-Baden is a world-renowned spa town with thermal baths dating back to Roman times. Another great option is Bad Homburg, located just north of Frankfurt, which is known for its luxurious spa resorts.
If you’re looking to refresh both body and mind, a spa tour is highly recommended! ✨
Just keep in mind that in most places, wearing a swimsuit is required!
hidden.germany 06.02.2025
Do you know the capital of Hesse, Germany? Many people associate Hesse with Frankfurt, the global financial hub and home to the European Central Bank. However, the state capital is actually a different city. Can you guess which one?
hidden.germany 02.02.2025