Museums in Darmstadt
In Darmstadt, you can discover numerous museums from large to small. In addition to the well-known museums such as the Hessian State Museum Darmstadt, the Museum Artists' Colony Darmstadt or the l Palace Museum. There are also the MUSEUM Jagdschloss Kranichstein, the Grand Ducal Hessian Porcelain Collection or the Kunsthalle Darmstadt as well as other museums and cultural institutions to discover.
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Museums in Darmstadt
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WebKunstforum der TU Darmstadt
The Kustforum (art forum) of the Technical University Darmstadt has set itself the task of encountering contemporary art and dealing with socially relevant topics. It offers space for young art, socially relevant and local historical topics and opens new perspectives on established artists.
Kunstfabrik e.V. BHF 2
Since 2007 in the renovated Wixhäuser Bahnhof, the Kunstfabrik has been a public forum for contemporary art.
ShopKünstler-Galerie "Künstler in Bewegung" im Carree
Die Künstlergemeinschaft ist ein Zusammenschluss von 14 Künstlern aus dem Grossraum Darmstadt. Über 3 Jahren haben die Künstler in einem Leerstand im Einkaufszentrum BOULEVARD erfolgreich eine Künstler-Galerie in Eigenregie betrieben.
Nach Kündigung durch den Investor des Boulevard ist es den Künstlern unter Einschaltung von Darmstadt Citymarketing gelungen, kurzfristig einen Ersatz Standort im Carree zu finden
Auf über 150 qm Galeriefläche werden seit 2.7.2021 mehr als 160 Exponate unterschiedlicher Stile und Techniken (Acryl, ÖL, Aquarelle, Tinten und Siebdrucke) und Skulpturen präsentiert
more informationen
Palace Museum Darmstadt
The versatile collection of the museum, founded in 1924 by Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig, takes you on a journey throug the centuries with its numerous regional and family history references. In the showrooms, which are furnished according to epochs, the Palace Museum presents paintings and sculptures as well as applied art from the 16th to the early 20th century e.g. furniture, tapestries, clocks, glass, ceramics, gold and silver works.
The period rooms can only be visited with a guided tour included in the admission price. The guided tours take place every 90 minutes from 10 am.
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
Kunsthalle Darmstadt
Only the portico remains today from the old neorenaissance style exhibition hall of the Darmstadt Kunstverein (society of art). It is now the boundary of the forecourt of the building newly erected in 1957. Where earlier, avantgarde from 1900 and the applied arts of Jugendstil were on display, today a series of temporary exhibitions of contemporary art can be viewed. Three large alternating exhibitions a year accompanied by numerous events ensure a rich program.
The unique ambience of the Kunsthalle offers even more: as an extraordinary location for your event with flexible possibilities for small and large groups up to 200 persons on a total of 1,500 m² including the outdoor area. Information: www.kunsthalle-darmstadt.de/Vermietung_16_0.html
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission to an exhibition
Accessibility
The entrance and exhibition area are accessible without steps.
The sanitary facilities and the studios are not barrier-free.
Wixhausen Village Museum
Housed in a Franconian timbered house, the museum of the protestant parish of Wixhausen, Darmstadt's most northerly district, is a record of how people used to live and work. Daily life in the 18th and 19th century is portrayed through three display workshops, household articles, toys and photographs.
The Wixhausen Village Museum starts the season at the beginning of April. Until the first Sunday in October (Thanksgiving Day), the museum is generally open for events as "Back und Schnack", the Kerb and the Kelterfest. The museum is always open on the 1st SO of the month from 2.30 - 4 pm. Exact dates can be found on the website.
Darmstädter Sezession
Darmstadt Secession is a non-profit association for visual artists, based in Darmstadt. The association was founded on June 8, 1919. The founders included the painters Max Beckmann and Ludwig Meidner. Today, the artists' association has about 100 members nationwide. Once a year, an exhibition is organized, at which the members and applicants for the main and advancement award of the Secession are invited.
House of Industrial Heritage
The House of Industrial Culture (HIK) is temporarily closed.
The printing museum is a part of the Hessen state museum in Darmstadt.
The printing museum gives an insight into the techniques of type casting, typesetting, and print methods. Numerous still-functioning machines document the transition from manual labour to machines in the printing trade from the beginning of the 19th century until the 1970s.
Kunst Archiv Darmstadt e.V.
The Kunstarchiv Darmstadt e.V. is a documentation centre for the visual arts in Darmstadt and surrounding area. It archives the work of past artists' generations, establishs a dialogue with contemporary artists and organises exhibitions mainly from its own collections, flanked by readings, concerts, guided tours, exhibition catalogues and the list of artists. A library with over 4,000 publications and more than 600 folders is available for research, as well as for public and private use.
Exhibition Hall on the Mathildenhöhe
The Exhibition Hall on Mathildenhöhe, which opened in 1908 together with the Hochzeitsturm, is the venue for outstanding special exhibitions of international contemporary art as well as art and culture around 1900. The tension between contemporary presentations and cultural-historical positions of the turn of the century results in an extraordinary and vital programme in which utopias and a spirit of departure meet a striking sense of form and reality.
The Exhibition Hall remains closed due to general renovation.
The "Hochzeitsturm“ (Wedding Tower) and the Exhibition Hall (1907-1908) were the work of Joseph Maria Olbrich. Hidden under the hall is the fascinating vault of a walled water reservoir, a technical masterpiece.
The reservoir was built between 1877 and 1880 to the plans of the engineer Otto Lueger at the highest point of the Mathildenhoehe – and at the time fed the city’s water supply network.
Internationales Waldkunst Zentrum (IWZ)
The International Forest Art Center has a gallery, open spaces (30 works of art), archive and artist residency. 11 International forest art trails in Darmstadt, USA and China have been organized so far.
The forest art trail in Darmstadt is 2.6 km long with 35 sculputures and starts in the forest at the Böllenfalltor.
Kulturinstitut Atelierhaus Vahle
The Cultural Institute
The Cultural Institute Atelierhaus Vahle is located in the former home and workplace of the artist couple Inge (1915-1989) and Fritz (1913-1991) Vahle, which is now owned by their son, the children's song writer Fredrik Vahle. It is a source of continuing creativity for artists, writers, scholars and, last but not least, for an interested public.
The Friends
The "Förderverein Atelierhaus Vahle e.V." maintains the heritage of the "Atelierhaus Vahle". It organises literature days, lecture series and symposia. Enriching art excursions are organised for members.
The C. Klein Gallery
The former studio is highly suitable for the presentation of art because of the selected lighting conditions and the appealing proportions.
The main characteristics of the painting shown by the C. Klein Gallery are nature-relatedness in various forms of abstraction.
Opening hours
during ongoing exhibitions
Friday 15 - 18.30
Saturday 11 - 14 h
and on request
Guided tours for groups by appointment.
Galerie Netuschil
Gallery Netuschil, founded in 1976, represents contemporary art of the 20th and 21st century, painting, original works on paper and graphic reproduction, with a focus on sculpture. Individual and themed exhibitions are part of the gallery programme. The gallery offers a wide range of contemporary art through its temporary exhibitions.
Weißer Turm
In the middle ages, the Weisser Turm (White Tower) was part of the town’s fortification. After the demolition of the city walls in the eighteenth century, it became a clock and bell tower. Its silver bell chimed whenever a member of the ruling family died. Today, the tower is a landmark in Darmstadt’s city centre and is home to a photo gallery.
Special guided tours: Tel. 0151 2263 5269
Hessen Design e.V.
Hessen Design e.V. is a competence, consultancy and mediation center for design in Hesse, which makes outstanding design services visible in its entire cultural, social and economic range. The country-wide orientation offers up-to-date industry information and a competent expert network of Hessian cultural and creative industries. The association promotes networking between designers, universities and regional companies. The varied annual programme offers design events, exhibitions, practical advice and a current educational programme.
TerminDarmstadt Artists' Colony Museum
The Artists' Colony Museum in the Ernst Ludwig House built in 1901, documents the history of the Darmstadt Artists' Colony (1899-1914) on the Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021.
The museum provides a comprehensive overview of the creative work of universal artists such as Joseph Maria Olbrich and Peter Behrens. The idea of the Gesamtkunstwerk as the ideal of the Art Nouveau movement is brought to life in spatial ensembles. The museum's sculpture studios, built in 1904, host special exhibitions from the 19th century to the present.
Downhill from the museum lie seven of the eight artists‘ houses, which were show-cased during the first exhibition in 1901 (three further exhibitions were held in 1904, 1908 and 1914).
The Artists' Colony Museum is certified for accessibility in the "Reisen für Alle" project.
The detailed information can be found here: www.reisen-fuer-alle.de
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt
The art and natural history collections of the counts and grand dukes are the foundation of today’s Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt (HLMD, Hessian State Museum). With its mixture of art, culture and natural history exhibits, the museum is one of the oldest all-round museums in Europe. In a close cooperation between Grand Duke Ernst-Ludwig and Alfred Messel, the building was specially designed for the different collections and was formally opened in 1906.
Accessibility is achieved in the HLMD to the best of its ability - as far as this is possible in an old building. In the house there are ramps, lifts, which can be used by physically disabled persons, and barrier-free toilets. In addition, there is an audioguide for blind visitors, who support the specially designed six touch models.
In the basement of the museum the museum café "HERZBLUT & ZINKE", offers warm dishes made from fresh, local produce as well as coffee and cake.
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
Railway Museum Darmstadt-Kranichstein
In the former rail depot, the "Verein Museumbahn" presents over 200 railway vehicles from all stages of rail history. The programme consists of guided tours through the vehicle fleet, a collection of historical signals and points and a model of the Main-Neckar railway. Steam train rides also take place regularly.
Open April until September
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
One-time 50% discount on the regular admission price for adults
Institut für Neue Technische Form (INTeF)
On the occasion of the Darmstadt Discussions "Human and Technology" and the exhibition on the Mathildenhöhe under the patronage of the then Federal President Theodor Heuss, the Institute for New Technical Form (INTeF) was founded as the first German design institute. With its endeavors to honor art and design, small series and industrial products in equal measure, the INTeF now occupies a unique position in Germany and is the point of contact for foreign design institutions.
Porcelain Collection of the Grand Duchy of Hessen in Prinz-Georgs Palais
With the opening of the Porcelain Museum in 1908, Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine made the princely family's possessions, which had been accumulated over centuries, accessible to the public.
One focus is on the ceramic products of the Kelsterbach factory and the Höchst and Frankenthal factories located in the region. With Meissen, Nymphenburg, Sèvres, Vienna and St. Petersburg, further important manufactories are represented. With more than 4,000 objects from faience, stoneware and porcelain, the collection provides an overview of the artistic development of European ceramics from its beginnings to the end of the 19th century.
The museum is open during the summer months, from 1. April to 31. October.
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
Spanish Tower Sculpture Garden
The Spanish Tower Sculpture Garden on the Rosenhöhe and in the immediate vicinity of the Oberfeld is a centre for high-class sculpture. It presents renowned national and international artists in annually changing exhibitions. The sculpture garden is a place where art and nature enter into a charming symbiosis that gives rise to lively interactions.
bioversum Jagdschloss Kranichstein
The exhibition in the former armoury of the hunting lodge (Jagdschloss Kranichstein) is a vivid and highly interactive presentation of the diversity of nature. The many events are directed especially at children with an interest in nature. Since 2015, they can play, observe, experiment and build things in the 16.000 square metre "outdoor laboratory".
The open-air laboratory is open in the summer half-year.
The bioversum is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
Schader-Stiftung
The Schader Foundation is a non-profit foundation under civil law based in Darmstadt. It finances its promotional activities from the proceeds of the private assets donated by Alois M. Schader. The Schader Foundation was established in 1988.
The purpose of the Foundation is to promote the social sciences through communication and cooperation between the social sciences and practice as well as practical orientation in the social sciences.
The Schader Foundation sees its tasks in
Initiating: Asking questions and getting ideas off the ground
Communicating: Bringing together actors from science and practice
Moderating: Promote decision-making and implementation processes
Evaluate: ask for results
Publish: Disseminate ideas, experiences and results
The Schader Foundation Gallery regularly hosts exhibitions on various social topics.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Papiertheatersammlung Walter Röhler in Darmstadt
Walter Röhler, born in DA in 1911, actually wanted to become theatre director, but had to be content with the profession of a teacher. His passion for the theatre prompted him to build a home stage and to perform plays himself. In addition, he started early to build a collection of original sheets for the assembly of paper theatres and to collect fully assembled stages.
The collection comprises 114 paper theatres, 77 complete sets of figures and scenery, over 9,000 paper theatre sheets and a specialist library and much more.
The Röhler Collection is part of the Darmstadt Municipal Art Collection and has been administered by the Mathildenhöhe Institute since January 2019, which has now also taken over the administration of the Paper Theatre Collection again - this in cooperation with the Cultural Office of the City of Darmstadt.
More information on the W. Röhler Paper Theatre Collection will follow soon on the homepage www.mathildenhoehe.eu.
MUSEUM Jagdschloss Kranichstein
Grand dukes and landgraves used this small renaissance castle as their base for hunting expeditions. In 1907, Landgrave Ernst Ludwig set up the hunting museum here. A large collection of weapons, equipment and hunting trophies as well as 13 differently laid-out saloons illustrate the life there and the nobility's passion for hunting.
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
The MUSEUM is closed on 24., 25. and 31. December as well as on 1. January.
Slektion Gallery
The Slektion Gallery on Stadtkirchplatz is the first exhibition space in Darmstadt to offer a platform to exciting, internationally renowned artists from the field of Urban Contemporary Art.
Opening hours:
Fridays & by appointment
Regional Gallery South Hessen
"An oasis in the hustle and bustle of the city", writes the press about the gallery at the Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt, which presents up to four exhibitions a year from artists from the Rhine-Main/Südhessen region. The collegiate building can be visited all year round as a monument to the State of Hesse. A permanent exhibition with works by regional artists and artists can be visited.
Dates and topics of the special exhibitions can be found on the homepage.
Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie e.V.
The „Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie“ developed 2004 from an initiative of photographers. The international festival is meanwhile named as one of most important German photography events. It places relevant themes and cultivates an interdisciplinary discourse in the photography. A whole weekend numerous activities do throw a light on the main theme from different perspectives: photography exhibitions, symposium and discussions are giving the examination with photography a unique concentration.
Messel Pit World Heritage Site
In 1995, the Messel pit was the first German natural monument in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It provides a unique insight into the early evolution of mammals and documents the development of the Earth 48 million years ago when, after the end of the dinosaur age, explosive changes determined the animal and plant world.
Several 10,000 fossils from the Eocene period have been excavated in the Maarvulkan Lake which was created 48 million years ago, and about 3,000 new finds are added annually. In addition to the high number and diversity of animal and plant fossils, their unique preservation of whole body skeletons, skin and coat shadows, feathers and stomach contents is particularly in the Messel pit.
Guided tours are held every day and invite visitors to discover this unique place. Anyone who visits this place will be amazed by the diversity of topics, which is also reflected in the permanent exhibition "Zeit und Messel Welten" (visitor centre). Here, industrial history, landscape, volcanism, rainforest and evolution are explained. The treasure chamber with several original finds also exerts a great fascination.
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission for the visitor centre
from 1 May 2024: 2 for 1: two regular tickets for the price of one
Altstadtmuseum Hinkelsturm
The Hinkelsturm was originally a fortified tower and part of Darmstadt‘s city walls. Today, the tiny building houses a museum which documents, over three floors, life in Darmstadt‘s former old town (Altstadt). A detailed model of the houses and the very narrow streets (scale of 1:160) shows how crowded it was to live there and brings back to life the area which Ernst Elias Niebergall immortalised in his cult novel „Der Datterich“.
The Museum is open in the summer months from April until October. Starting in November, you can book individual tours at 06151 48135
Darmstadt Card
The Darmstadt Card is available as a one-and two-day ticket, it includes the use of all public transport in the city area (fare zone 40) and discounts to numerous cultural facilities.
Darmstadt App
With the official Darmstadt app you have everything you need for your stay in the "City of Science" always at your fingertips. The app offers a city map with points of interest, shops and restaurants, a calendar of events, suggestions for walking tours (e.g. to the art nouveau ensemble "Mathildenhöhe") as well as audio tours by tram and highlights and news about Darmstadt.
The app is available for free app from the App Store and Google Play Store.
App "Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt"
With the Mathildenhöhe App you can go on a journey through time on Mathildenhöhe. Historical views are superimposed with current images and illustrate how the Mathildenhöhe developed during and after the Artists' Colony.
For viewing the web-version and the direct links to the AppStore and Google Play, please click here.