In 1840, the opening of a casino transformed this little spa into on of Europe's gaming capitals. Today, most visitors to this modern town are attracted to the Spa Park, which along with the casino, the Russian church and the Siamese temple is a definite change of scenery. The castle, dominated by the tall white tower - a survival of the original fortress - was successively the residence of the Landgraves of Hesse-Homburg then the summer palace of the Prussian kings.