Darmstadt (incl Hundertwasser bldg) - Nightsky’s trip to central Germany

[Nightsky]

I visited Darmstadt as part of my Frankfurt visit. I dropped off the train in Darmstadt on my way to Heidelberg, mostly to visit Hundertwasser's Waldspirale in the north part of the city, but also to see how the city, rarely heard of, looked like. I found it a bit dull in its city center because of the modern buildings that arose after the bombings, but its citizens seemed nice and helpful and there are some nice historic buildings, such as the Ducal Palace, and parks in the center. It is very busy in the city center, especially at Luisenplatz, with a lot of people going anywhere in this very populated German region. There seem to be many dull areas in the city, but the north part, however, there the Hundertwasser building is, is very nice with a mix of top modern apartments buildings, alleys and old jugend buildings. Darmstadt also has nice gardens in Mathildenhöhe and Rosenhöhe with jugend residences and a botanical garden, but I didn't have time to visit. It is rumoured that the castle named Frankenstein and inspired Mary Shelley's novel is situated close to Darmstadt.

MITTE - CITY CENTER

At a first glance, I found it a bit dull in its city center because of the modern buildings that arose after the bombings - totally 35 bombings took place
during WWII between 1940 and 1944, but its citizens where extremely helpful when asking for directions and there are some nice historic buildings,
such as the Ducal Palace, and parks in the center. It is very busy in the city center, especially at Luisenplatz, with a lot of people going anywhere in
this very populated German region. There are many immigrants and independent people in Darmstadt. In Darmstadt you can find such diverse architecture stylesas modernism, baroque, jugend and deconstructivism.


Luisenplatz, the largest square and center of the city. A major transport hub for trams and buses. It is a bit dangerous place to dwell, as it is hard to know where a tram Ludwigsäule, a 33m tall red stone column right at Luisenplatz that was erected in 1944 commemorating Ludwig I, grand duke of Hesse. More of Luisenplatz:














The Ducal Palace (Schloss) was the residence of the counts of Hesse-Darmstadt, later as Grand Dukes of Hesse by the grace of Napoleon. Its current look was established in the 18th century. The counts also owned the so called Castle Frankenstein on the Langenberg above the city, that inspired Mary Shelley on her novel.







Ducal Palace.


There is a sign to the left that says "Bike parking forbidden"!


Ernst-Ludwigs-platz. Der Weisse Turm, the white tower, had a photo exhibition. The large department store is Galeria Kaufhof, that can be found in larger German cities.


Der Weisse Turm is 40m tall.


Marktplatz with Altes Rathaus in the background. The building to the left is one of the few older buildings left unfortunately hidden, behind scaffolds.


Friedensplatz with Hessian Landemsmuseum and another Ludwig I statue.


Friedensplatz with Haus der Geschichte. The former theater fro 1819 is now a Hessian museum.






St Elisabeth Kirche, the tallest church in Darmstadt. A catholic church. Unfortunately I didn't go close to the church, I only saw it from the tram.


Darmstadtium Congress Center, a striking modern building in deconstructivist style. It was built in 2007 and is impressive inside.

More photos and text from my visit to Darmstadt:
http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Darmstadt.html

[Nightsky]

BÜRGPARK DISTRICT IN NORTH DARMSTADT – THE AREA AROUND HUNDERTWASSER’S WALDSPIRALE:

In the north part of Darmstadt, not so far from the city center, the famous U-shaped Waldspirale by Hundertwasser, a surreal jugend residential building in many colours is located. This area is very nice with a mix of top modern apartments buildings, alleys and old jugend buildings.


Waldspirale means "Wooden Spirale". The legendary Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser designed it, and to my surprised I found out it was completed as late as in 2000. All windows and handles are unique. It has 12 floors at its highest point and it contains 105 apartments.


Waldspirale is a lot less touristy then Hundertwasser's buildings in Vienna. Probably because Darmstadt doesn't have many tourists and it is located in the outskirts.












The inner courtyard has a playground. The building is shaped like the letter "U".








Waldspirale in HDR.

Other quarters in the area:


























More photos and text from my visit to Darmstadt:
http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Darmstadt.html

[christos-greece]

Darmstadt is looking a very nice, good city and its architecture is great

[Nightsky]

WEST CENTRAL:

In the west central part of Darmstadt is the main station located.


Hauptbahnhof, the jugend Main Railway Station from 1912.











NORTHERN OUTSKIRTS: