Darmstadt – a textbook modern town

If German towns were schoolchildren then Darmstadt would be top of the class. Highly educated, well read, cultivated, immaculately groomed and with a range of interests – through science, literature, art and architecture, Darmstadt has developed a wholly unique appeal that has earned it much acclaim.

Rising from the rubble through art and education
The establishment of the Mathildenhöhe artists colony more than one hundred years ago played its part in raising Darmstadt to prominence. Magnificent art nouveau houses give this hill of muses an unmistakable character. In the immediate post-war period, general malaise and a lack of housing dominated life in Darmstadt, which at the time was almost completely destroyed. But after 1949, the city experienced a second cultural dawn, which led to the foundation of innovative organisations and the systematic establishment of 'smokeless industry'. Today, Darmstadt is home to a great many publishing houses and graphic design studios, a renowned State Theatre and internationally acclaimed institutes for literature, art and music. The award ceremony for Germany's most prestigious literature prize – the Georg Büchner Award – also takes place in Darmstadt. Other highlights include the International Summer Course for New Music (held for the first time in 1946), the Hessian State Museum featuring the world's largest Joseph Beuys collection, the Kunsthalle art gallery, countless readings and concerts, a vibrant jazz, entertainment and theatre scene, and lots of art galleries. In 1999 the Centralstation arts centre opened in the heart of the city. This listed former machine hall presents plays, readings, exhibitions, concerts and clubbing over two floors.

Sights, sounds and a packed calendar of events.
If all that wasn't enough, other attractions include the Old Town Hall, Luisenplatz square, the palace on the market square, St. Ludwig's church, St. Paul's church, the octagonal house and the orangery, Rosenhöhe hill and the Russian Orthodox church with its enchanting grove of plane trees. Held since 1950, the Darmstadt Debates (Darmstädter Gespräche) also attract visitors to the city. Even the very first debate on how man depicts himself attracted international attention and led to heated debates about art and its role after the war. All the debates are accompanied by exhibitions, which ensure that the subjects of discussion are not simply theoretical concepts. Another survivor of the post-war period is the annual Heinerfest, which was first held in 1951 amid the ruins of the city. This festival offers conclusive proof – if proof were needed – that the erudite people of Darmstadt also know how to let their hair down.