Cities in Germany: Darmstadt
In 26 km south of Frankfurt lies the city of Darmstadt (Darmstadt), until 1945, which was the capital of Hesse. This is one of the major cultural and scientific centers of the country, wearing an unofficial nickname Wissenschaftsstadt ("City of science") – A lot of scientific institutions, universities and high-tech companies are concentrated here, including ESOC (European Center for Space Operations).
Sights of Darmstadt
Tourists will also be interesting here Ducal Palace (XIII-XIX centuries.) in the city center adjacent to the colorful Square MarkTplatz, 33-meter column "Long Ludwig" (Ludwigsäule, 1844 g.) On Luisenplatz Square, the former Plive Wasserturm Water Tower (1910 G., Now there is a restaurant and art gallery in it), College Building (KOLLEGINGEBÄUDE, XVII-XIX centuries.), "White Tower" (Weisturm, XV in.) – one of the few elements of the old urban system of fortifications, restored after bombing of the Second World, English Park Herrngarten (former royal gardens) in the center and Mystical Park Rosenhöhe ("High rose", Here is a necropolis with the mausoleum of the city rulers), Ducal Palace (XVI-XVIII centuries., Restored in 1972.), Renaissance Old Town Hall (1590 g.), Catholic Church of St. Ludwig (Lüdwigskirche, XIX in.) rather strange architecture, Protestant City Church Stadtkirche (1369 g.) Near Lion fountain (XVI B.) and historical Hotel Bockshaut (1580 g.).
On the northeastern part of the historic center of Matildenhee’s historic center in the northeastern part (Mathildenhöhe, the highest point of the city) breaks a park, and is the Orthodox our Chapel, officially – Church of Mary Magdalina (Russische Orthodoxe Kirche Der HL. Maria Magdalena). The wife of the last king of Russia Nikolai II Alisa Gessen-Darmstadtskaya, she is Alexander Fedorovna, was born in Darmstadt, like Maria Aleksandrovna, Alexander II’s wife, in honor of which in the city there are obelisk. On the funds of the our ruling house on the project of architect l.N.Benoit and was built in 1899 this church, in the foundation of which laid the land from several provinces of the our Empire. The church that the Germans themselves are more often called "our Capella", still acts and belongs to the German diocese of the our Orthodox Church abroad. Here on the hill is located Museum of colony artists (Kunstlerkolonie) – Unique Museum of Modern Open Sky, Exhibition Hall of the Art Institute Mathildenhöhe, The cottage settlement of the masters itself, several panoramic arbors, as well as a 48-meter complex "Wedding Tower" Hochzeitsturm (1905-1908.) Josef Olbrich (it is in his house that the German-Polish Institute is now located).
South south of the art museum Künstlerkolonie (Fully dedicated to the era of modern) and the Institute of New Music and Music Education adjacent to it (Institut Für Neue Musik und Musikerziehung E.V.) and German-Polish Institute (Deutsches Polen-Institut), State Museum of Earth Hesse (Hessiscches Landesmuseum), Museum of Porcelain (Extensive exposure from the Ducal Assembly), University Library and Museum in New Castle (Schlossmuseum, visit is possible only with a guided tour), Exhibition Complex Kunsthalle Darmstadt (almost entirely given under the work of contemporary art), complex State Theater (Staatstheater Darmstadt, the existing building is in operation since 1972 and has three halls that can be used independently from each other), Botanical Garden Darmstadt Technology University with an excellent collection of rare plants, an unusual residential complex "Forest spiral" (WaldSpirale, 2000 g.) on the project of Freedsraich Hundertwasser, unusual "Garden of all the gods" Vortex Garden (1921 G.), as well as many unique buildings in the Art Nouveau style.
Over the southern outskirts of the city rises the famous Frankenstein castle (Burg Frankenstein). Lying in the northern spurs of the Odenwald at an altitude of 370 meters, it was he who served as a source of inspiration for Mary Shelly when writing a cult book "Frankenstein, or Modern Prometheus". The castle was laid in approximately 1250 by Conrad from Breiberga, in the XV century, significantly expanded and modernized, but in the XVIII century, declined. However, Dark Forests and Narrow Potted Valleys of Odenwald served as the heads of the skills of the legends and myths, which were eventually transferred to the castle and he became a certain impersonation of the gloomy secrecy. Despite his practically worldwide fame, the castle never served a commercial tourist attraction, and the local residents themselves are more like hiking in the mountains than visiting this harsh fortress. However, since 2000, the Mühltal Municipality (Mühltal) began to hold weddings, a good restaurant with a sun terrace was opened right under the tower, and since 1978, one of the largest festivals on Halloween were held here.
Around Darmstadt
Numerous tours of all kinds are sent from Darmstadt to South, allowing to get acquainted with the nature of the picturesque mountain range Odenwald (Odenwald). The most famous of them is the most popular BERGSTRASSE ("Mountain street"), passing in the footsteps of another Roman trading path through Eberstadt (Eberstadt), Bensheim (Bensheim), Heppenheim, Weinheim, Heidelberg (Heidelberg, Heidelberg) to Vislokh (Wiesloch). Given the fact that, besides picturesque forests and historical settlements, tourists will find the richest fruit and walnut gardens of the country, see many ancient castles and numerous medieval graded houses, will visit the ancient vineyards and the UNESCO World Heritage List of the Lorsch Monastery (Lorsch) will visit This area is considered one of the most interesting for a calm ethnographic holiday. Well, the pearl of the southern part "Bergshtrasse" is undoubtedly ancient university city of Heidelberg (Heidelberg, Heidelberg), lying, however, on the territory of the land of Baden-Württemberg.
