Page 386 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

384  WESTERN GERM AN Y HESSE  385

u Darmstadt to the south and west. The behind the museum is the a guest room or court- Nearby stands the late-Gothic,
Schloß was bombed in World Baroque Prinz-Georg-Palais room, and were from 15th-century Pfarrkirche St
Road map C5. * 138,000. £ War II and subsequently rebuilt. (1710), which houses the the 14th century used Michael (parish church of St
n Luisencenter, Luisenplatz 5 (06151-
134 511). _ Days of Art Nouveau Today it houses part of the Großherzoglich-Hessische as a chapel. Remains of Michael). Inside are some
(May), Schloßgrabenfest (May), Technical University, while the Porzellansammlung, an the original wall paint- interesting epitaphs including
Heinerfest (early Jul), Herbstfest (Oct). Glockenbau is home to the extensive porcelain collection. ings are still visible here. the double tombstone of
∑ darmstadt-tourismus.de fascinating Schloßmuseum The last Grand Duke of Hesse, The façade is decorated Philipp I and Georg I, dating
(castle museum). As well as Ernst Ludwig, was an important with red and white from the late 15th century. A
The earliest historical records of a splendid collection of coaches patron of the Jugendstil, the stone mosaics inspired true rarity is the 18th-century
Darmstadt, which was probably and furniture, it contains the German Art Nouveau by Franco-Merovingian synagogue, which escaped
named after Dari mund, a famous Darmstädter movement. He initiated the art. The vertical divides, being burned by the National
Frankonian settler, date from the Madonna (1526), by Holbein. building of an exhibition created by pilasters and Socialists in 1938.
12th century. Until 1479, the Also worth seeing, and residential complex, entablature, are copies In the Steinbach district of
castle and the town belonged to the late-Renaissance the Mathildenhöhe, of ancient designs – an Michelstadt stands the
the Counts von Katzenelnbogen, Rathaus (town hall), built which was established archi tectural feature Einhardsbasilika, a church
and later to Hessian landgraves. in 1588–90, survived in 1901 in the grounds typical of the Carolingian dating from around 821. The
In 1567, the Landgraves von World War II. The of the former ducal Renaissance. The first church built on this site,
Hessen-Darmstadt chose 15th-century choir of park, to serve the The Carolingian Torhalle (gate-house) of the Kloster chapel’s high roof and at the initiative of Einhard, a
Darmstadt as their residence, the Stadtkirche existing artists’ colony (abbey) in Lorsch vaults date from the courtier of Charlemagne, was
and they lived here until 1918. has an enormous led by Joseph Maria 14th century. a small, pillared and vaulted
To the north of the old town monument (1587) to Olbrich. Olbrich designed i Lorsch basilica with a short choir
stands the Residen z schloß, Magda lena zur Lippe, the Ernst-Ludwig-Haus, Road map C5. * 10,700. ending with a rounded apse.
initially a ducal palace, and first wife of Landgrave which now houses the n Marktplatz 1 (06251-175 26 0). o Michelstadt Under the eastern section is a
from 1806 residence of the Georg I the Pious. To the Museum Künstler- ∑ lorsch.de Road map C5. * 16,000. crypt. The parts which remain
Landgraves von Hessen- southwest of the kolonie, an exhibition n Marktplatz 1 (06061-979 41 10). to this day include the main
Darmstadt. The Re naissance- Stadtkirche stands the space for the colony’s This small town is mainly known _ Bienenmarkt (Whitsun), Christmas nave, the north aisle with an
Baroque complex is centred Altes Pädagog, built in artists, as well as for the Kloster, a Benedictine Market (Dec). apse and the crypt which holds
around three courtyards. The 1629 as an educational the famous abbey first founded in 764 by precious religious relics.
earlier medieval castle, which establishment. Statue on the door Hochzeitsturm Chrodegang of Metz and one of Michelstadt, set among the
stood on the same site, burned To the north of the of the Behrens-Haus (wedding tower), the most important cultural and hills of the Odenwald, is first Environs
down in 1546. The present Schloss is the in Darmstadt erected in 1907–8 to intellectual centres in Europe in mentioned in historical records In Fürstenau, situated about
palace was created in stages, Hessisches Landes- celebrate the Grand the Carolingian era. It reached in 741. From the 13th century 1 km (0.6 mile) northwest of
with its earliest parts, the museum (regional museum of Duke’s wedding. The Behrens- the peak of its power in the the town belonged to the von Michelstadt, is a beautiful
Renaissance wings, dating from Hesse), erected in 1892–1905. Haus, designed by the Hamburg 8th–13th centuries, before being Erbach family (the future complex including the Altschloß
1567–97. The Glockenbau has a Its collection includes artifacts architect Peter Behrens, is sober sold to the Archbishop of Mainz Counts von Erbach). (old palace), remodelled from a
35-bell carillon which can be dating from the Ro man era to in contrast. The Orthodox church in 1232. The Benedictines were The town has preserved medieval castle, the Neuschloß
heard every half hour; it was the 20th century. The museum of St Mary Magdalene was built forced to leave, and in their many historic half-timbered (new palace), dating from 1810,
completed in 1663. Further also has an excellent natural in 1897–9 by the Russian place the Cistercians arrived. houses and presents a typical the park and its garden pavilions.
modi fications, planned in 1715– history section, whose exhibits architect Leonti Nikolayevich The monastery was dissolved image of medieval Germany. Erbach, 3 km (2 miles) south of
30, were never completed. Two include the impressive skeleton Benois, in honour of Alix, wife of during the Reformation, and The 16th-century Kellerei is Michelstadt, became famous as a
Baroque wings, the so-called of a mammoth as well as birds the last tsar of Russia and sister in 1621 the Spanish Army built around the remains of an centre for the art of ivory carving.
Neubau or Neuschloß (new of every species native to of Ernst Ludwig. destroyed and plundered the earlier castle dating from 970. It In No. 1 Otto-Glenz-Straße is the
castle), surround older buildings southern Hesse. Set in the park greater part of the complex. now houses a regional museum. Deutsches Elfenbein museum
E Schloßmuseum Fragments of the 13th- The sight most popular with (German ivory museum), which
Residenzschloß, Marktplatz 15. century nave, the towers and photographers is the half- is devoted to this craft. Other
Tel (06151) 240 35. Open 10am–5pm the gate-house, dating from timbered Rathaus (town hall), attractions in this town include
Fri–Sun. 8 obligatory. around 790, are all that has dating from 1484, with its three the Baroque Schloß
∑ schlossmuseum-darmstadt.de survived. The original towers and an open (castle) and its interesting
E Hessisches Landesmuseum 8th-century church, a basilica ground-floor gallery. art collection.
Friedensplatz 1. Tel (06151) 16 57 000. without transept, burned down
Open 10am–6pm Tue, Thu & Fri, in 1090 and was rebuilt in the
10am–8pm Wed, 11am–5pm Sat 12th cen tury. The original crypt
& Sun. & is the burial place of Ludwig II
the German, the first ruler of the
E Museum Künstlerkolonie
Olbrichweg 15/Mathildenhöhe. Eastern Franks. The Torhalle
Tel (06151) 13 33 85. (gate-house) is one of the most
Open 11am–6pm Tue–Sun. & important architectural remains
∑ mathildenhoehe.eu of the Carolingian period, and it
was listed as a UNESCO World
E Großherzoglich-Hessische Heritage site in 1991. Its lower
Porzellan sammlung section is made up of three
Schloßgartenstraße 10. Tel (06151) 71 arcades, modelled on Roman
32 33. Open Apr–Oct: 10am–5pm triumphal arches. The first-floor
Fri–Sun.
Hochzeitsturm and Orthodox Church in Mathildenhöhe, Darmstadt quarters were probably used as The Carolingian Einhardsbasilika in Michelstadt-Steinbach
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp499–500 and pp525–6

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 15th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm