From the market square to Mathildenhöhe
(optional via Rosenhöhe, Oberfeld and Botanical Garden)
- Route length: 1.5 km (can be extended to 5 km)
- Duration: approx. 20 minutes (can be extended to approx. 1.5 hours)
- Condition: slight ascent, gravel and field paths from Rosenhöhe onwards
- Highlights: Old city wall, Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt World Heritage Site, Rosenhöhe Park, Oberfeld Darmstadt, Oberfeld Estate
darmstadtium science and congress centre
You can easily reach the whole city by starting your tour at the market square. Both nature and culture are within easy walking distance. A footpath, the so-called Erich-Ollenhauer-Promenade, leads past the ‘darmstadtium’ congress centre and a section of the historic city and restored prison wall directly out of the hustle and bustle of the city centre to the Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt World Heritage Site.
The ensemble, which has been recognised for its experimental architecture, includes the Wedding Tower and Exhibition Building, the Darmstadt Artists‘ Colony Museum, the plane tree grove and various artists’ houses as well as the Russian Chapel. A good place to stop off is the Mathildenhöhe café-restaurant in the Exhibition Building, with a view over the plane tree grove. You can easily spend a whole day here - from soaking up the sun by the lily basin to visiting the Artists' Colony Museum and climbing the 48.5 metre high Wedding Tower with its viewing platform.
Wedding tower with observation deck
Rosenhöhe Park with Rosarium
For those who still have energy, motivation and time, the tour continues from here on out! From Mathildenhöhe, it's a short walk downhill to the Löwentor, the impressive entrance to Rosenhöhe Park. With apple trees, mausoleums for the grand ducal family of Darmstadt and the nationally renowned rosarium with 200 different varieties of the blooming beauties, this park is as exciting as it is relaxing.
The striking end of a walk around this park is the so-called ‘Spanish Tower’, whose origins and original use are the subject of much speculation. Behind it lies the Oberfeld, Darmstadt's closest connection to the forest and fields and the last agriculturally utilised area within the city limits.
The Spanish Tower
Oberfeld with outdoor enclosures for farm animals
The Oberfeld is wide, colourful and quiet - apart from cows, chickens and the occasional bicycle bell - and is therefore a great contrast to the city centre, the starting point of this route. However, it is rarely really tranquil here. As a popular destination for Sunday strolls, short cycle tours and nature lovers, there is always something going on here. The area is home to over 500 seasonal gardeners, each of whom cultivates their own small plot.
In addition to the classic ‘big walk’, the Oberfeld is particularly popular with families, as the stables of the neighbouring farmstead have large outdoor areas. This means that cows, geese and chickens can be viewed up close. The farm also has a café and farm shop where you can enjoy coffee and cake as well as buy fresh food, e.g. cheese from the farm's own production.
Oberfeld farm with café
Botanical gardens
To get home, there is a bus stop directly at the Hofgut, and the Ostbahnhof railway station is also within walking distance. To extend the route even further, however, a footpath leads across the main road and railway tracks directly to the TU Darmstadt Botanical Gardens. There are 8,000 plant species from all climate and vegetation zones to marvel at on the approximately five-hectare site! And for animal lovers, the Vivarium Zoo is very close by. With a petting zoo, walk-through enclosures and a café with outdoor catering, it's the perfect end to this day trip.