Staying in Darmstadt Germany on a tour. Any suggestions on out of the way things to see.?

Question

Staying in Darmstadt Germany on a tour. Any suggestions on out of the way things to see.?

Answer 1

Darmstadt, Germany - Not to Miss

Darmstadt has been the citadel of Art Nouveau, in German Jugendstil. Your tour guide may get you to the Marienhoehe (Hill of Mary), where a large Art Nouveau building is, with a cafe in it, and the Hochzeitsturm (Wedding Tower). You will find beautiful art work on the walls!

Close by is the Russian Chapel, a jewel in itself, inside and out,  with its gold-topped towers! Nearby are Art Nouveau houses: a walk along the streets is delightful.

Darmstadt also has a castle in the center of the city, which you may want to visit. There are some nice second hand stores, in case you are interested in shopping and saving a bit (see Yellow Pages or ask those living there).

The larger Darmstadt surroundings are filled with so many places worth seeing that you probably will not have the time to see them all.

Yet, a boats tour along the Rhine would be unforgettable, visiting Ruedesheim.

A visit to the Hospital of the Heidelberg University to see the Prinzhornsammlung (Prinzhorn Collection), would be rather out of the ordinary (please call and make an appointment before you go there).

Dr. Prinzhorn collected the art of his patients in the clinic before 1920 and exhibited the fantastic  pieces in 1920, along with a catalogue. The art was so revolutionary that people argued about it. The patients combined different media in one piece of art, as no artist had ever done before. They just used what they had: paper, pencils, fabric, oil paint, water color, etc. The result: unusual, expressive, often most colorful and always heartfelt art.

Another result was that the catalog with pictures of the exhibits, got around to artists in different countries. These artists just picked "their" style: Nolde, Chagall, Marc, Ernst, Picasso, later Dali etc. They never talked about where they got "their idea" from. The originals they imitated were often so much better than what they made of it!

However, after drugs were developed and given to the patients, their creativity was suppressed, and no such incredible art has been created ever since.

For these reasons alone it is worth to look at the Prinzhorn exhibit in Heidelberg!

Wishing you a fun-filled vacation time.

Cordially, India.Magica

Answer 2

I use to live in Darmstadt  for a few years,before my Family moved to Hamburg. Darmstadt itself has not a lot to show.,but there is lot in the surrounding area, if you like the Outdoors, there is the Odenwald with lot of beautiful old Farm villages, Heidelberg to the South,Frankfurt to the  North and the Rheinebene to the West,with City like Mainz,Wiesbaden, all have a lot of History and a lot to show.

Answer 3

Go visit the castle Frankenstein, thats pretty neat. I´m sorry, I dont know a lot about Darmstadt, but its also nice to drive along the Bergstrasse and see all the castles and visit the good wine restaurants! :-) Enjoy!