Von der Mathildenhöhe zum Marktplatz
- Route length: 1.5km
- Duration: approx. 20 minutes
- Condition: slight descent
- Highlights: Mathildenhöhe World Heritage Site Darmstadt ensemble, Old City Wall, Darmstadt Residential Palace
Wedding tower, Exhibition Building and Russian chapel
The Mathildenhöhe World Heritage Site in Darmstadt is always worth a visit! Whether just for a short walk or as a starting point for a day trip. The ensemble, which has been recognised for its experimental architecture, includes the Wedding Tower with exhibition building, the Darmstadt Artists‘ Colony Museum, the plane tree grove and various artists’ houses as well as the Russian Chapel. You can easily spend a whole day here at the World Heritage Site.
Boules is played in the plane tree grove, families picnic by the lily basin and everyone enjoys the sweeping view from the platform of the 48.5 metre high wedding tower. The Mathildenhöhe café-restaurant in the exhibition building, with a view over the plane tree grove, is also popular. If it's raining (or if you're generally interested in art and Art Nouveau), it's worth visiting the Artists' Colony Museum, where not only beautiful everyday objects are on display, but also the history of the ensemble.
Portal Ernst-Ludwig House
Historic prison wall
If you are also looking for the hustle and bustle of the city, you can quickly reach the city centre. The so-called Erich-Ollenhauer-Promenade leads directly into the city centre. Passing a section of the historic city and prison wall, which has been restored in line with its listed status, and the ‘darmstadtium’ congress centre, you can see the Residenzschloss from afar. This is home to the palace museum, which tells the story of the landgraves and grand dukes.
As part of its autonomy in property and building matters, the Technical University of Darmstadt officially became the ‘owner of the castle’ in 2005. In addition to the organ hall for events, a third location for the University and State Library, the Department of Social Sciences and History, the Presidential Board and parts of the central university administration are also based here.
Moat of the residential palace
Friedensplatz
Tip: You can take a walk around the castle in the flowering moat and there is a publicly accessible summer restaurant on the bastion in the castle garden. The squares around the palace - Karolinenplatz, Friedensplatz and Marktplatz - also host regular events. And numerous cafés and restaurants invite you to take a short break on the market square, as does Darmstadt's weekly market on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm.