Holiday in Darmstadt

About Darmstadt

Darmstadt is a city where art, science, and architecture enter into an extraordinary symbiosis. The large city in southern Hesse has held the official title of "Science City" since 1997 — rightly so, as it is home to the Technical University of Darmstadt, the ESA (European Space Operations Centre ESOC), the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, and three Fraunhofer Institutes. The heart of Darmstadt is the Mathildenhöhe, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2021. Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig invited artists of the Art Nouveau movement to the hill starting in 1899, including Joseph Maria Olbrich and Peter Behrens. This led to the creation of the artists' colony with the iconic Wedding Tower (the "Five-Finger Tower"), the exhibition building, and the artists' houses — a total work of art in the Art Nouveau style that is unmatched worldwide. Friedensreich Hundertwasser left behind one of his last residential projects with the Waldspirale: a 12-story residential building with over 1,000 windows, none of which are alike, a green roof, and colorful glazed colonnades. The building is freely accessible from the outside and is a magnet for architecture enthusiasts. The Hessisches Landesmuseum combines art, nature, and history under one roof — including one of the most significant collections of Joseph Beuys worldwide and the notorious "Block Beuys." Herrngarten, Darmstadt's oldest park, and the Residenzschloss in the heart of the city invite leisurely strolls.